2 Chronicles Chapter v1

 

1:1 Now Solomon the son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and יַהְוֶה his Almighty was with him and exalted him greatly. v2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and to the judges and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ households. v3 Then Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place which was at Gibeon; for the Almighty’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the servant of יַהְוֶה had made in the wilderness. v4 However, David had brought up the ark of the Almighty from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. v5 Now the bronze altar, which Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of יַהְוֶה, and Solomon and the assembly sought it out. v6 And Solomon went up there before יַהְוֶה to the bronze altar which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. v7 In that night the Almighty appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” v8 And Solomon said to the Almighty, “Thou hast dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and hast made me king in his place. v9 “Now, O יַהְוֶה Almighty, Thy promise to my father David is fulfilled; for Thou hast made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. v10 “Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can rule this great people of Thine?” v11 And the Almighty said to Solomon, “Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth, or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge, that you may rule My people, over whom I have made you king, v12 wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed, nor those who will come after you.” v13 So Solomon went from the high place which was at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel. v14 And Solomon amassed chariots and horsemen. He had v1,400 chariots, and v12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem. v15 And the king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamores in the lowland. v16 And Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue; the king’s traders procured them from Kue for a price. v17 And they imported chariots from Egypt for v600 shekels of silver apiece, and horses for v150 apiece, and by the same means they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v2

 

2:1 Now Solomon decided to build a house for the name of יַהְוֶה, and a royal palace for himself. v2 So Solomon assigned v70,000 men to carry loads, and v80,000 men to quarry stone in the mountains, and v3,600 to supervise them. v3 Then Solomon sent word to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, “As you dealt with David my father, and sent him cedars to build him a house to dwell in, so do for me. v4 “Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of יַהְוֶה my Almighty, dedicating it to Him, to burn fragrant incense before Him, and to set out the showbread continually, and to offer burnt offerings morning and evening, on sabbaths and on new moons and on the appointed feasts of יַהְוֶה our Almighty, this being required forever in Israel. v5 “And the house which I am about to build will be great; for greater is our Almighty than all the gods. v6 “But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense before Him? v7 “And now send me a skilled man to work in gold, silver, brass and iron, and in purple, crimson and violet fabrics, and who knows how to make engravings, to work with the skilled men whom I have in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. v8 “Send me also cedar, cypress and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber of Lebanon; and indeed, my servants will work with your servants, v9 to prepare timber in abundance for me, for the house which I am about to build will be great and wonderful. v10 “Now behold, I will give to your servants, the woodsmen who cut the timber, v20,000 kors of crushed wheat, and v20,000 kors of barley, and v20,000 baths of wine, and v20,000 baths of oil.” v11 Then Huram, king of Tyre, answered in a letter sent to Solomon: “Because יַהְוֶה loves His people, He has made you king over them.” v12 Then Huram continued, “Blessed be יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of Israel, who has made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding, who will build a house for יַהְוֶה and a royal palace for himself. v13 “And now I am sending a skilled man, endowed with understanding, Huram-abi, v14 the son of a Danite woman and a Tyrian father, who knows how to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone and wood, and in purple, violet, linen and crimson fabrics, and who knows how to make all kinds of engravings and to execute any design which may be assigned to him, to work with your skilled men, and with those of my lord David your father. v15 “Now then, let my lord send to his servants wheat and barley, oil and wine, of which he has spoken. v16 “And we will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon, and bring it to you on rafts by sea to Joppa, so that you may carry it up to Jerusalem.” v17 And Solomon numbered all the aliens who were in the land of Israel, following the census which his father David had taken; and v153,600 were found. v18 And he appointed v70,000 of them to carry loads, and v80,000 to quarry stones in the mountains, and v3,600 supervisors to make the people work.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v3

 

3:1 Then Solomon began to build the house of יַהְוֶה in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. v2 And he began to build on the second day in the second month of the fourth year of his reign. v3 Now these are the foundations which Solomon laid for building the house of the Almighty. The length in cubits, according to the old standard was sixty cubits, and the width twenty cubits. v4 And the porch which was in front of the house was as long as the width of the house, twenty cubits, and the height v120; and inside he overlaid it with pure gold. v5 And he overlaid the main room with cypress wood and overlaid it with fine gold, and ornamented it with palm trees and chains. v6 Further, he adorned the house with precious stones; and the gold was gold from Parvaim. v7 He also overlaid the house with gold— the beams, the thresholds, and its walls, and its doors; and he carved cherubim on the walls. v8 Now he made the room of the holy of holies: its length, across the width of the house, was twenty cubits, and its width was twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to v600 talents. v9 And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He also overlaid the upper rooms with gold. v10 Then he made two sculptured cherubim in the room of the holy of holies and overlaid them with gold. v11 And the wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits; the wing of one, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and its other wing, of five cubits, touched the wing of the other cherub. v12 And the wing of the other cherub, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house; and its other wing of five cubits, was attached to the wing of the first cherub. v13 The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits, and they stood on their feet facing the main room. v14 And he made the veil of violet, purple, crimson and fine linen, and he worked cherubim on it. v15 He also made two pillars for the front of the house, thirty-five cubits high, and the capital on the top of each was five cubits. v16 And he made chains in the inner sanctuary, and placed them on the tops of the pillars; and he made one hundred pomegranates and placed them on the chains. v17 And he erected the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right and the other on the left, and named the one on the right Jachin and the one on the left Boaz.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v4

 

4:1 Then he made a bronze altar, twenty cubits in length and twenty cubits in width and ten cubits in height. v2 Also he made the cast metal sea, ten cubits from brim to brim, circular in form, and its height was five cubits and its circumference thirty cubits. v3 Now figures like oxen were under it and all around it, ten cubits, entirely encircling the sea. The oxen were in two rows, cast in one piece. v4 It stood on twelve oxen, three facing the north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east; and the sea was set on top of them, and all their hindquarters turned inwards. v5 And it was a handbreadth thick, and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom; it could hold v3,000 baths. v6 He also made ten basins in which to wash, and he set five on the right side and five on the left, to rinse things for the burnt offering; but the sea was for the priests to wash in. v7 Then he made the ten golden lampstands in the way prescribed for them, and he set them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left. v8 He also made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left. And he made one hundred golden bowls. v9 Then he made the court of the priests and the great court and doors for the court, and overlaid their doors with bronze. v10 And he set the sea on the right side of the house toward the southeast. v11 Huram also made the pails, the shovels, and the bowls. So Huram finished doing the work which he performed for King Solomon in the house of the Almighty: v12 the two pillars, the bowls and the two capitals on top of the pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on top of the pillars, v13 and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of pomegranates for each network to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on the pillars. v14 He also made the stands and he made the basins on the stands, v15 and the one sea with the twelve oxen under it. v16 And the pails, the shovels, the forks, and all its utensils, Huram-abi made of polished bronze for King Solomon for the house of יַהְוֶה. v17 On the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah. v18 Thus Solomon made all these utensils in great quantities, for the weight of the bronze could not be found out. v19 Solomon also made all the things that were in the house of the Almighty: even the golden altar, the tables with the bread of the Presence on them, v20 the lampstands with their lamps of pure gold, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary in the way prescribed; v21 the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs of gold, of purest gold; v22 and the snuffers, the bowls, the spoons, and the firepans of pure gold; and the entrance of the house, its inner doors for the holy of holies, and the doors of the house, that is, of the nave, of gold.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v5

 

5:1 Thus all the work that Solomon performed for the house of יַהְוֶה was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, even the silver and the gold and all the utensils, and put them in the treasuries of the house of the Almighty. v2 Then Solomon assembled to Jerusalem the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel, to bring up the ark of the covenant of יַהְוֶה out of the city of David, which is Zion. v3 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves to the king at the feast, that is in the seventh month. v4 Then all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark. v5 And they brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the holy utensils which were in the tent; the Levitical priests brought them up. v6 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him before the ark were sacrificing so many sheep and oxen, that they could not be counted or numbered. v7 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of יַהְוֶה to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the holy of holies, under the wings of the cherubim. v8 For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering over the ark and its poles. v9 And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles of the ark could be seen in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen outside; and they are there to this day. v10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, where יַהְוֶה made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. v11 And when the priests came forth from the holy place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without regard to divisions), v12 and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and kinsmen, clothed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, standing east of the altar, and with them one hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets v13 in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify יַהְוֶה, and when they lifted up their voice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised יַהְוֶה saying,He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting,” then the house, the house of יַהְוֶה, was filled with a cloud, v14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of יַהְוֶה filled the house of the Almighty.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v6

 

6:1 Then Solomon said, “ יַהְוֶה has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud. v2 “I have built Thee a lofty house, And a place for Thy dwelling forever.” v3 Then the king faced about and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. v4 And he said, “Blessed be יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hands, saying, v5 ‘Since the day that I brought My people from the land of Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there, nor did I choose any man for a leader over My people Israel; v6 but I have chosen Jerusalem that My name might be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’ v7 “Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of Israel. v8 “But יַהְוֶה said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. v9 ‘Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you, he shall build the house for My name.’ v10 “Now יַהְוֶה has fulfilled His word which He spoke; for I have risen in the place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as יַהְוֶה promised, and have built the house for the name of יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of Israel. v11 “And there I have set the ark, in which is the covenant of יַהְוֶה, which He made with the sons of Israel.” v12 Then he stood before the altar of יַהְוֶה in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. v13 Now Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and he stood on it, knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven. v14 And he said, “O יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of Israel, there is no god like Thee in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Thy servants who walk before Thee with all their heart; v15 who has kept with Thy servant David, my father, that which Thou hast promised him; indeed, Thou hast spoken with Thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with Thy hand, as it is this day. v16 “Now therefore, O יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of Israel, keep with Thy servant David, my father, that which Thou hast promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way, to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’ v17 “Now therefore, O יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of Israel, let Thy word be confirmed which Thou hast spoken to Thy servant David. v18 “But will the Almighty indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain Thee; how much less this house which I have built. v19 “Yet have regard to the prayer of Thy servant and to his supplication, O יַהְוֶה my Almighty, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Thy servant prays before Thee; v20 that Thine eyes may be open toward this house day and night, toward the place of which Thou hast said that Thou wouldst put Thy name there, to listen to the prayer which Thy servant shall pray toward this place. v21 “And listen to the supplications of Thy servant and of Thy people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear Thou from Thy dwelling place, from heaven; hear Thou and forgive. v22 “If a man sins against his neighbor, and is made to take an oath, and he comes and takes an oath before Thine altar in this house, v23 then hear Thou from heaven and act and judge Thy servants, punishing the wicked by bringing his way on his own head and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness. v24 “And if Thy people Israel are defeated before an enemy, because they have sinned against Thee, and they return to Thee and confess Thy name, and pray and make supplication before Thee in this house, v25 then hear Thou from heaven and forgive the sin of Thy people Israel, and bring them back to the land which Thou hast given to them and to their fathers. v26 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against Thee, and they pray toward this place and confess Thy name, and turn from their sin when Thou dost afflict them; v27 then hear Thou in heaven and forgive the sin of Thy servants and Thy people Israel, indeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Thy land, which Thou hast given to Thy people for an inheritance. v28 “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, if there is locust or grasshopper, if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities, whatever plague or whatever sickness there is, v29 whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Thy people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own pain, and spreading his hands toward this house, v30 then hear Thou from heaven Thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart Thou knowest for Thou alone dost know the hearts of the sons of men, v31 that they may fear Thee, to walk in Thy ways as long as they live in the land which Thou hast given to our fathers. v32 “Also concerning the foreigner who is not from Thy people Israel, when he comes from a far country for Thy great name’s sake and Thy mighty hand and Thine outstretched arm, when they come and pray toward this house, v33 then hear Thou from heaven, from Thy dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to Thee, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Thy name, and fear Thee, as do Thy people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Thy name. v34 “When Thy people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way Thou shalt send them, and they pray to Thee toward this city which Thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for Thy name, v35 then hear Thou from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. v36 “When they sin against Thee (for there is no man who does not sin) and Thou art angry with them and dost deliver them to an enemy, so that they take them away captive to a land far off or near, v37 if they take thought in the land where they are taken captive, and repent and make supplication to Thee in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have committed iniquity, and have acted wickedly’; v38 if they return to Thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward their land which Thou hast given to their fathers, and the city which Thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Thy name, v39 then hear from heaven, from Thy dwelling place, their prayer and supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive Thy people who have sinned against Thee. v40 “Now, O my Almighty, I pray Thee, let Thine eyes be open, and Thine ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. v41 “Now therefore arise, O יַהְוֶה Almighty, to Thy resting place, Thou and the ark of Thy might; let Thy priests, O יַהְוֶה Almighty, be clothed with salvation, and let Thy godly ones rejoice in what is good. v42 “O יַהְוֶה Almighty, do not turn away the face of Thine anointed; remember Thy lovingkindness to Thy servant David.”

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v7

 

7:1 Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of יַהְוֶה filled the house. v2 And the priests could not enter into the house of יַהְוֶה, because the glory of יַהְוֶה filled יַהְוֶה’s house. v3 And all the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of יַהְוֶה upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to יַהְוֶה, saying, “Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting.” v4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before יַהְוֶה. v5 And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of v22,000 oxen, and v120,000 sheep. Thus the king and all the people dedicated the house of the Almighty. v6 And the priests stood at their posts and the Levites, with the instruments of music to יַהְוֶה, which King David had made for giving praise to יַהְוֶה— “for His lovingkindness is everlasting “— whenever he gave praise by their means, while the priests on the other side blew trumpets; and all Israel was standing. v7 Then Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of יַהְוֶה, for there he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar which Solomon had made was not able to contain the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the fat. v8 So Solomon observed the feast at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, who came from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt. v9 And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for the dedication of the altar they observed seven days, and the feast seven days. v10 Then on the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their tents, rejoicing and happy of heart because of the goodness that יַהְוֶה had shown to David and to Solomon and to His people Israel. v11 Thus Solomon finished the house of יַהְוֶה and the king’s palace, and successfully completed all that he had planned on doing in the house of יַהְוֶה and in his palace. v12 Then יַהְוֶה appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. v13 “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, v14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. v15 “Now My eyes shall be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. v16 “For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. v17 “And as for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked even to do according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, v18 then I will establish your royal throne as I covenanted with your father David, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to be ruler in Israel.’ v19 “But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you and shall go and serve other gods and worship them, v20 then I will uproot you from My land which I have given you, and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. v21 “As for this house, which was exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has יַהְוֶה done thus to this land and to this house?’ v22 “And they will say, ‘Because they forsook יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of their fathers, who brought them from the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them, therefore He has brought all this adversity on them.’”

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v8

 

8:1 Now it came about at the end of the twenty years in which Solomon had built the house of יַהְוֶה and his own house v2 that he built the cities which Huram had given to him, and settled the sons of Israel there. v3 Then Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and captured it. v4 And he built Tadmor in the wilderness and all the storage cities which he had built in Hamath. v5 He also built upper Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars; v6 and Baalath and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots and cities for his horsemen, and all that it pleased Solomon to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land under his rule. v7 All of the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel, v8 namely, from their descendants who were left after them in the land whom the sons of Israel had not destroyed, them Solomon raised as forced laborers to this day. v9 But Solomon did not make slaves for his work from the sons of Israel; they were men of war, his chief captains, and commanders of his chariots and his horsemen. v10 And these were the chief officers of King Solomon, two hundred and fifty who ruled over the people. v11 Then Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the city of David to the house which 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 where the ark of יַהְוֶה has entered.” v12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to יַהְוֶה on the altar of יַהְוֶה which he had built before the porch; v13 and did so according to the daily rule, offering them up according to the commandment of Moses, for the sabbaths, the new moons, and the three annual feasts— the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths. v14 Now according to the ordinance of his father David, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, and the Levites for their duties of praise and ministering before the priests according to the daily rule, and the gatekeepers by their divisions at every gate; for David the man of the Almighty had so commanded. v15 And they did not depart from the commandment of the king to the priests and Levites in any manner or concerning the storehouses. v16 Thus all the work of Solomon was carried out from the day of the foundation of the house of יַהְוֶה, and until it was finished. So the house of יַהְוֶה was completed. v17 Then Solomon went to Ezion-geber and to Eloth on the seashore in the land of Edom. v18 And Huram by his servants sent him ships and servants who knew the sea; and they went with Solomon’s servants to Ophir, and took from there four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to King Solomon.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v9

 

9:1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with difficult questions. She had a very large retinue, with camels carrying spices, and a large amount of gold and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was on her heart. v2 And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was hidden from Solomon which he did not explain to her. v3 And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house which he had built, v4 the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his ministers and their attire, his cupbearers and their attire, and his stairway by which he went up to the house of יַהְוֶה, she was breathless. v5 Then she said to the king, “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. v6 “Nevertheless I did not believe their reports until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me. You surpass the report that I heard. v7 “How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom. v8 “Blessed be יַהְוֶה your Almighty who delighted in you, setting you on His throne as king for יַהְוֶה your Almighty; because your Almighty loved Israel establishing them forever, therefore He made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness.” v9 Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, and a very great amount of spices and precious stones; there had never been spice like that which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. v10 And the servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir, also brought algum trees and precious stones. v11 And from the algum the king made steps for the house of יַהְוֶה and for the king’s palace, and lyres and harps for the singers; and none like that was seen before in the land of Judah. v12 And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire which she requested besides a return for what she had brought to the king. Then she turned and went to her own land with her servants. v13 Now the weight of gold which came to Solomon in one year was v666 talents of gold, v14 besides that which the traders and merchants brought; and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. v15 And King Solomon made v200 large shields of beaten gold, using v600 shekels of beaten gold on each large shield. v16 And he made v300 shields of beaten gold, using three hundred shekels of gold on each shield, and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. v17 Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. v18 And there were six steps to the throne and a footstool in gold attached to the throne, and arms on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms. v19 And twelve lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other kingdom. v20 And all King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; silver was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon. v21 For the king had ships which went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks. v22 So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. v23 And all the kings of the earth were seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which the Almighty had put in his heart. v24 And they brought every man his gift, articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year. v25 Now Solomon had v4,000 stalls for horses and chariots and v12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. v26 And he was the ruler over all the kings from the Euphrates River even to the land of the Philistines, and as far as the border of Egypt. v27 And the king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the lowland. v28 And they were bringing horses for Solomon from Egypt and from all countries. v29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first to last, are they not written in the records of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat? v30 And Solomon reigned forty years in Jerusalem over all Israel. v31 And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David; and his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v10

 

10:1 Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. v2 And it came about when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon), that Jeroboam returned from Egypt. v3 So they sent and summoned him. When Jeroboam and all Israel came, they spoke to Rehoboam, saying, v4 “Your father made our yoke hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.” v5 And he said to them, “Return to me again in three days.” So the people departed. v6 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to answer this people?” v7 And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be kind to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” v8 But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him. v9 So he said to them, “What counsel do you give that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?” v10 And the young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you shall say to the people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter for us.’ Thus you shall say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins! v11 ‘Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’” v12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had directed, saying, “Return to me on the third day.” v13 And the king answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the elders. v14 And he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” v15 So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of events from the Almighty that יַהְוֶה might establish His word, which He spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. v16 And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them the people answered the king, saying, “What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to your tents, O Israel; Now look after your own house, David.” So all Israel departed to their tents. v17 But as for the sons of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. v18 Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the forced labor, and the sons of Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam made haste to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. v19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v11

 

11:1 Now when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, v180,000 chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. v2 But the word of יַהְוֶה came to Shemaiah the man of the Almighty, saying, v3 “Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, v4 ‘Thus says יַהְוֶה, “You shall not go up or fight against your relatives; return every man to his house, for this thing is from Me.”’” So they listened to the words of יַהְוֶה and returned from going against Jeroboam. v5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah. v6 Thus he built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, v7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, v8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, v9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, v10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin. v11 He also strengthened the fortresses and put officers in them and stores of food, oil and wine. v12 And he put shields and spears in every city and strengthened them greatly. So he held Judah and Benjamin. v13 Moreover, the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel stood with him from all their districts. v14 For the Levites left their pasture lands and their property and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from serving as priests to יַהְוֶה. v15 And he set up priests of his own for the high places, for the satyrs, and for the calves which he had made. v16 And those from all the tribes of Israel who set their hearts on seeking יַהְוֶה Almighty of Israel, followed them to Jerusalem to sacrifice to יַהְוֶה Almighty of their fathers. v17 And they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam the son of Solomon for three years, for they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years. v18 Then Rehoboam took as a wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse, v19 and she bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. v20 And after her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom, and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. v21 And Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom more than all his other wives and concubines. For he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines and fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. v22 And Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah as head and leader among his brothers, for he intended to make him king. v23 And he acted wisely and distributed some of his sons through all the territories of Judah and Benjamin to all the fortified cities, and he gave them food in abundance. And he sought many wives for them.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v12

 

12:1 It took place when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and strong that he and all Israel with him forsook the law of יַהְוֶה. v2 And it came about in King Rehoboam’s fifth year, because they had been unfaithful to יַהְוֶה, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem v3 with v1,200 chariots and v60,000 horsemen. And the people who came with him from Egypt were without number: the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians. v4 And he captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem. v5 Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the princes of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he said to them, “Thus says יַהְוֶה, ‘You have forsaken Me, so I also have forsaken you to Shishak.’” v6 So the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “ יַהְוֶה is righteous.” v7 And when יַהְוֶה saw that they humbled themselves, the word of יַהְוֶה came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves so I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some measure of deliverance, and My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by means of Shishak. v8 “But they will become his slaves so that they may learn the difference between My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.” v9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took the treasures of the house of יַהְוֶה and the treasures of the king’s palace. He took everything; he even took the golden shields which Solomon had made. v10 Then King Rehoboam made shields of bronze in their place, and committed them to the care of the commanders of the guard who guarded the door of the king’s house. v11 And it happened as often as the king entered the house of יַהְוֶה, the guards came and carried them and then brought them back into the guards’ room. v12 And when he humbled himself, the anger of יַהְוֶה turned away from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and also conditions were good in Judah. v13 So King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned. Now Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which יַהְוֶה had chosen from all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. v14 And he did evil because he did not set his heart to seek יַהְוֶה. v15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, from first to last, are they not written in the records of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, according to genealogical enrollment? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. v16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David; and his son Abijah became king in his place.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v13

 

13:1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah. v2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. v3 And Abijah began the battle with an army of valiant warriors, v400,000 chosen men, while Jeroboam drew up in battle formation against him with v800,000 chosen men who were valiant warriors. v4 Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel: v5 “Do you not know that יַהְוֶה Almighty of Israel gave the rule over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt? v6 “Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his master, v7 and worthless men gathered about him, scoundrels, who proved too strong for Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, when he was young and timid and could not hold his own against them. v8 “So now you intend to resist the kingdom of יַהְוֶה through the sons of David, being a great multitude and having with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made for gods for you. v9 “Have you not driven out the priests of יַהְוֶה, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests like the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, even he may become a priest of what are no gods. v10 “But as for us, יַהְוֶה is our Almighty, and we have not forsaken Him; and the sons of Aaron are ministering to יַהְוֶה as priests, and the Levites attend to their work. v11 “And every morning and evening they burn to יַהְוֶה burnt offerings and fragrant incense, and the showbread is set on the clean table, and the golden lampstand with its lamps is ready to light every evening; for we keep the charge of יַהְוֶה our Almighty, but you have forsaken Him. v12 “Now behold, the Almighty is with us at our head and His priests with the signal trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against יַהְוֶה Almighty of your fathers, for you will not succeed.” v13 But Jeroboam had set an ambush to come from the rear, so that Israel was in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. v14 When Judah turned around, behold, they were attacked both front and rear; so they cried to יַהְוֶה, and the priests blew the trumpets. v15 Then the men of Judah raised a war cry, and when the men of Judah raised the war cry, then it was that the Almighty routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. v16 And when the sons of Israel fled before Judah, the Almighty gave them into their hand. v17 And Abijah and his people defeated them with a great slaughter, so that v500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain. v18 Thus the sons of Israel were subdued at that time, and the sons of Judah conquered because they trusted in יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of their fathers. v19 And Abijah pursued Jeroboam, and captured from him several cities, Bethel with its villages, Jeshanah with its villages, and Ephron with its villages. v20 And Jeroboam did not again recover strength in the days of Abijah; and יַהְוֶה struck him and he died. v21 But Abijah became powerful, and took fourteen wives to himself; and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. v22 Now the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways and his words are written in the treatise of the prophet Iddo.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v14

 

14:1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and his son Asa became king in his place. The land was undisturbed for ten years during his days. v2 And Asa did good and right in the sight of יַהְוֶה his Almighty, v3 for he removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherim, v4 and commanded Judah to seek יַהְוֶה Almighty of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment. v5 He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. And the kingdom was undisturbed under him. v6 And he built fortified cities in Judah, since the land was undisturbed, and there was no one at war with him during those years, because יַהְוֶה had given him rest. v7 For he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought יַהְוֶה our Almighty; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered. v8 Now Asa had an army of v300,000 from Judah, bearing large shields and spears, and v280,000 from Benjamin, bearing shields and wielding bows; all of them were valiant warriors. v9 Now Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and v300 chariots, and he came to Mareshah. v10 So Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up in battle formation in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. v11 Then Asa called to יַהְוֶה his Almighty, and said, “ יַהְוֶה, there is no one besides Thee to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O יַהְוֶה our Almighty, for we trust in Thee, and in Thy name have come against this multitude. O יַהְוֶה, Thou art our Almighty; let not man prevail against Thee.” v12 So יַהְוֶה routed the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. v13 And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar; and so many Ethiopians fell that they could not recover, for they were shattered before יַהְוֶה, and before His army. And they carried away very much plunder. v14 And they destroyed all the cities around Gerar, for the dread of יַהְוֶה had fallen on them; and they despoiled all the cities, for there was much plunder in them. v15 They also struck down those who owned livestock, and they carried away large numbers of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v15

 

15:1 Now the Spirit of the Almighty came on Azariah the son of Oded, v2 and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: יַהְוֶה is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. v3 “And for many days Israel was without the true Almighty and without a teaching priest and without law. v4 “But in their distress they turned to יַהְוֶה Almighty of Israel, and they sought Him, and He let them find Him. v5 “And in those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for many disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. v6 “And nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for the Almighty troubled them with every kind of distress. v7 “But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.” v8 Now when Asa heard these words and the prophecy which Azariah the son of Oded the prophet spoke, he took courage and removed the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities which he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He then restored the altar of יַהְוֶה which was in front of the porch of יַהְוֶה. v9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin and those from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who resided with them, for many defected to him from Israel when they saw that יַהְוֶה his Almighty was with him. v10 So they assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign. v11 And they sacrificed to יַהְוֶה that day v700 oxen and v7,000 sheep from the spoil they had brought. v12 And they entered into the covenant to seek יַהְוֶה Almighty of their fathers with all their heart and soul; v13 and whoever would not seek יַהְוֶה Almighty of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. v14 Moreover, they made an oath to יַהְוֶה with a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets, and with horns. v15 And all Judah rejoiced concerning the oath, for they had sworn with their whole heart and had sought Him earnestly, and He let them find Him. So יַהְוֶה gave them rest on every side. v16 And he also removed Maacah, the mother of King Asa, from the position of queen mother, because she had made a horrid image as an Asherah, and Asa cut down her horrid image, crushed it and burned it at the brook Kidron. v17 But the high places were not removed from Israel; nevertheless Asa’s heart was blameless all his days. v18 And he brought into the house of the Almighty the dedicated things of his father and his own dedicated things: silver and gold and utensils. v19 And there was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v16

 

16:1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah. v2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of יַהְוֶה and the king’s house, and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, saying, v3Let there be a treaty between you and me, as between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold; go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so that he will withdraw from me.” v4 So Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. v5 And it came about when Baasha heard of it that he ceased fortifying Ramah and stopped his work. v6 Then King Asa brought all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with which Baasha had been building, and with them he fortified Geba and Mizpah. v7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you have relied on the king of Aram and have not relied on יַהְוֶה your Almighty, therefore the army of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand. v8 “Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on יַהְוֶה, He delivered them into your hand. v9 “For the eyes of יַהְוֶה move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.” v10 Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him for this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time. v11 And now, the acts of Asa from first to last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. v12 And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa became diseased in his feet. His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek יַהְוֶה, but the physicians. v13 So Asa slept with his fathers, having died in the forty-first year of his reign. v14 And they buried him in his own tomb which he had cut out for himself in the city of David, and they laid him in the resting place which he had filled with spices of various kinds blended by the perfumers’ art; and they made a very great fire for him.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v17

 

17:1 Jehoshaphat his son then became king in his place, and made his position over Israel firm. v2 He placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had captured. v3 And יַהְוֶה was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father David’s earlier days and did not seek the Baals, v4 but sought the Almighty of his father, followed His commandments, and did not act as Israel did. v5 So יַהְוֶה established the kingdom in his control, and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. v6 And he took great pride in the ways of יַהְוֶה and again removed the high places and the Asherim from Judah. v7 Then in the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; v8 and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. v9 And they taught in Judah, having the book of the law of יַהְוֶה with them; and they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. v10 Now the dread of יַהְוֶה was on all the kingdoms of the lands which were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. v11 And some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat; the Arabians also brought him flocks, v7,700 rams and v7,700 male goats. v12 So Jehoshaphat grew greater and greater, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah. v13 And he had large supplies in the cities of Judah, and warriors, valiant men, in Jerusalem. v14 And this was their muster according to their fathers’ households: of Judah, commanders of thousands, Adnah was the commander, and with him v300,000 valiant warriors; v15 and next to him was Johanan the commander, and with him v280,000; v16 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who volunteered for יַהְוֶה, and with him v200,000 valiant warriors; v17 and of Benjamin, Eliada a valiant warrior, and with him v200,000 armed with bow and shield; v18 and next to him Jehozabad, and with him v180,000 equipped for war. v19 These are they who served the king, apart from those whom the king put in the fortified cities through all Judah.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v18

 

18:1 Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab. v2 And some years later he went down to visit Ahab at Samaria. And Ahab slaughtered many sheep and oxen for him and the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead. v3 And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And he said to him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the battle.” v4 Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of יַהְוֶה.” v5 Then the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Almighty will give it into the hand of the king.” v6 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of יַהְוֶה here that we may inquire of him?” v7 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of יַהְוֶה, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil. He is Micaiah, son of Imla.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” v8 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah, Imla’s son.” v9 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. v10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, “Thus says יַהְוֶה, ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans, until they are consumed.’” v11 And all the prophets were prophesying thus, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed, for יַהְוֶה will give it into the hand of the king.” v12 Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. So please let your word be like one of them and speak favorably.” v13 But Micaiah said, “As יַהְוֶה lives, what my Almighty says, that I will speak.” v14 And when he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” He said, “Go up and succeed, for they will be given into your hand.” v15 Then the king said to him, “How many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of יַהְוֶה?” v16 So he said, “I saw all Israel Scattered on the mountains, Like sheep which have no shepherd; And יַהְוֶה said, ‘These have no master. Let each of them return to his house in peace.’” v17 Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” v18 And Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of יַהְוֶה. I saw יַהְוֶה sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left. v19 “And יַהְוֶה said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said this while another said that. v20 “Then a spirit came forward and stood before יַהְוֶה and said, ‘I will entice him.’ And יַהְוֶה said to him, ‘How?’ v21 “And he said, ‘I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You are to entice him and prevail also. Go and do so.’ v22 “Now therefore, behold, יַהְוֶה has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; for יַהְוֶה has proclaimed disaster against you.” v23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of יַהְוֶה pass from me to speak to you?” v24 And Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day, when you enter an inner room to hide yourself.” v25 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son; v26 and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in prison, and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely.”’” v27 And Micaiah said, “If you indeed return safely, יַהְוֶה has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Listen, all you people.” v28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead. v29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle. v30 Now the king of Aram had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with small or great, but with the king of Israel alone.” v31 So it came about when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, “It is the king of Israel,” and they turned aside to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and יַהְוֶה helped him, and the Almighty diverted them from him. v32 Then it happened when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. v33 And a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of the chariot, “Turn around, and take me out of the fight; for I am severely wounded.” v34 And the battle raged that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot in front of the Arameans until the evening; and at sunset he died.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v19

 

19:1 Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. v2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate יַהְוֶה and so bring wrath on yourself from יַהְוֶה? v3 “But there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have set your heart to seek the Almighty.” v4 So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem and went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of their fathers. v5 And he appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city. v6 And he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for יַהְוֶה who is with you when you render judgment. v7 “Now then let the fear of יַהְוֶה be upon you; be very careful what you do, for יַהְוֶה our Almighty will have no part in unrighteousness, or partiality, or the taking of a bribe.” v8 And in Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests, and some of the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, for the judgment of יַהְוֶה and to judge disputes among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. v9 Then he charged them saying, “Thus you shall do in the fear of יַהְוֶה, faithfully and wholeheartedly. v10 “And whenever any dispute comes to you from your brethren who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them that they may not be guilty before יַהְוֶה, and wrath may not come on you and your brethren. Thus you shall do and you will not be guilty. v11 “And behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in all that pertains to יַהְוֶה; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all that pertains to the king. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Act resolutely, and יַהְוֶה be with the upright.”

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v20

 

20:1 Now it came about after this that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat. v2 Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, out of Aram and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is Engedi).” v3 And Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek יַהְוֶה; and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. v4 So Judah gathered together to seek help from יַהְוֶה; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek יַהְוֶה. v5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of יַהְוֶה before the new court, v6 and he said, “O יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of our fathers, art Thou not Almighty in the heavens? And art Thou not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Thy hand so that no one can stand against Thee. v7 “Didst Thou not, O our Almighty, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Thy people Israel, and give it to the descendants of Abraham Thy friend forever? v8 “And they lived in it, and have built Thee a sanctuary there for Thy name, saying, v9 ‘Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before Thee (for Thy name is in this house) and cry to Thee in our distress, and Thou wilt hear and deliver us.’ v10 “And now behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom Thou didst not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (they turned aside from them and did not destroy them), v11 behold how they are rewarding us, by coming to drive us out from Thy possession which Thou hast given us as an inheritance. v12 “O our Almighty, wilt Thou not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on Thee.” v13 And all Judah was standing before יַהְוֶה, with their infants, their wives, and their children. v14 Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of יַהְוֶה came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph; v15 and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says יַהְוֶה to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but the Almighty’s. v16 ‘Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. v17 ‘You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of יַהְוֶה on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for יַהְוֶה is with you.” v18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before יַהְוֶה, worshiping יַהְוֶה. v19 And the Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise יַהְוֶה Almighty of Israel, with a very loud voice. v20 And they rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in יַהְוֶה your Almighty, and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.” v21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to יַהְוֶה and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Give thanks to יַהְוֶה, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” v22 And when they began singing and praising, יַהְוֶה set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed. v23 For the sons of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir destroying them completely, and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. v24 When Judah came to the lookout of the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and behold, they were corpses lying on the ground, and no one had escaped. v25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found much among them, including goods, garments, and valuable things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry. And they were three days taking the spoil because there was so much. v26 Then on the fourth day they assembled in the valley of Beracah, for there they blessed יַהְוֶה. Therefore they have named that place “The Valley of Beracah “ until today. v27 And every man of Judah and Jerusalem returned with Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for יַהְוֶה had made them to rejoice over their enemies. v28 And they came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres, and trumpets to the house of יַהְוֶה. v29 And the dread of the Almighty was on all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that יַהְוֶה had fought against the enemies of Israel. v30 So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his Almighty gave him rest on all sides. v31 Now Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. v32 And he walked in the way of his father Asa and did not depart from it, doing right in the sight of יַהְוֶה. v33 The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet directed their hearts to the Almighty of their fathers. v34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first to last, behold, they are written in the annals of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel. v35 And after this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. He acted wickedly in so doing. v36 So he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion-geber. v37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, יַהְוֶה has destroyed your works.” So the ships were broken and could not go to Tarshish.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v21

 

21:1 Then Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Jehoram his son became king in his place. v2 And he had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azaryahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. All these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. v3 And their father gave them many gifts of silver, gold and precious things, with fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the first-born. v4 Now when Jehoram had taken over the kingdom of his father and made himself secure, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and some of the rulers of Israel also. v5 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. v6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab did (for Ahab’s daughter was his wife), and he did evil in the sight of יַהְוֶה. v7 Yet יַהְוֶה was not willing to destroy the house of David because of the covenant which He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and his sons forever. v8 In his days Edom revolted against the rule of Judah, and set up a king over themselves. v9 Then Jehoram crossed over with his commanders and all his chariots with him. And it came about that he arose by night and struck down the Edomites who were surrounding him and the commanders of the chariots. v10 So Edom revolted against Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time against his rule, because he had forsaken יַהְוֶה Almighty of his fathers. v11 Moreover, he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot and led Judah astray. v12 Then a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet saying, “Thus says יַהְוֶה Almighty of your father David, ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father and the ways of Asa king of Judah, v13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot as the house of Ahab played the harlot, and you have also killed your brothers, your own family, who were better than you, v14 behold, יַהְוֶה is going to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions with a great calamity; v15 and you will suffer severe sickness, a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out because of the sickness, day by day.’” v16 Then יַהְוֶה stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabs who bordered the Ethiopians; v17 and they came against Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions found in the king’s house together with his sons and his wives, so that no son was left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. v18 So after all this יַהְוֶה smote him in his bowels with an incurable sickness. v19 Now it came about in the course of time, at the end of two years, that his bowels came out because of his sickness and he died in great pain. And his people made no fire for him like the fire for his fathers. v20 He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years; and he departed with no one’s regret, and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v22

 

22:1 Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, for the band of men who came with the Arabs to the camp had slain all the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign. v2 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri. v3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly. v4 And he did evil in the sight of יַהְוֶה like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction. v5 He also walked according to their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to wage war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. But the Arameans wounded Joram. v6 So he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which they had inflicted on him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. And Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram king of Judah, went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick. v7 Now the destruction of Ahaziah was from the Almighty, in that he went to Joram. For when he came, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom יַהְוֶה had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. v8 And it came about when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers, ministering to Ahaziah, and slew them. v9 He also sought Ahaziah, and they caught him while he was hiding in Samaria; they brought him to Jehu, put him to death, and buried him. For they said, “He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought יַהְוֶה with all his heart.” So there was no one of the house of Ahaziah to retain the power of the kingdom. v10 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose and destroyed all the royal offspring of the house of Judah. v11 But Jehoshabeath the king’s daughter took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and placed him and his nurse in the bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah so that she would not put him to death. v12 And he was hidden with them in the house of the Almighty six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v23

 

23:1 Now in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Johanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, and they entered into a covenant with him. v2 And they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. v3 Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of the Almighty. And Jehoiada said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as יַהְוֶה has spoken concerning the sons of David. v4 “This is the thing which you shall do: one third of you, of the priests and Levites who come in on the sabbath, shall be gatekeepers, v5 and one third shall be at the king’s house, and a third at the Gate of the Foundation; and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of יַהְוֶה. v6 “But let no one enter the house of יַהְוֶה except the priests and the ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy. And let all the people keep the charge of יַהְוֶה. v7 “And the Levites will surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever enters the house, let him be killed. Thus be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.” v8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with those who were to go out on the sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss any of the divisions. v9 Then Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields which had been King David’s, which were in the house of the Almighty. v10 And he stationed all the people, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king. v11 Then they brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, “Long live the king!” v12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came into the house of יַהְוֶה to the people. v13 And she looked, and behold, the king was standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpeters were beside the king. And all the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets, the singers with their musical instruments leading the praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and said, “Treason! Treason!” v14 And Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army, and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks; and whoever follows her, put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of יַהְוֶה.” v15 So they seized her, and when she arrived at the entrance of the Horse Gate of the king’s house, they put her to death there. v16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they should be יַהְוֶה’s people. v17 And all the people went to the house of Baal, and tore it down, and they broke in pieces his altars and his images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. v18 Moreover, Jehoiada placed the offices of the house of יַהְוֶה under the authority of the Levitical priests, whom David had assigned over the house of יַהְוֶה, to offer the burnt offerings of יַהְוֶה, as it is written in the law of Moses— with rejoicing and singing according to the order of David. v19 And he stationed the gatekeepers of the house of יַהְוֶה, so that no one should enter who was in any way unclean. v20 And he took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of יַהְוֶה, and came through the upper gate to the king’s house. And they placed the king upon the royal throne. v21 So all of the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v24

 

24:1 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Zibiah from Beersheba. v2 And Joash did what was right in the sight of יַהְוֶה all the days of Jehoiada the priest. v3 And Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he became the father of sons and daughters. v4 Now it came about after this that Joash decided to restore the house of יַהְוֶה. v5 And he gathered the priests and Levites, and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah, and collect money from all Israel to repair the house of your Almighty annually, and you shall do the matter quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly. v6 So the king summoned Jehoiada the chief priest and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and from Jerusalem the levy fixed by Moses the servant of יַהְוֶה on the congregation of Israel for the tent of the testimony?” v7 For the sons of the wicked Athaliah had broken into the house of the Almighty and even used the holy things of the house of יַהְוֶה for the Baals. v8 So the king commanded, and they made a chest and set it outside by the gate of the house of יַהְוֶה. v9 And they made a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem to bring to יַהְוֶה the levy fixed by Moses the servant of the Almighty on Israel in the wilderness. v10 And all the officers and all the people rejoiced and brought in their levies and dropped them into the chest until they had finished. v11 And it came about whenever the chest was brought in to the king’s officer by the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, then the king’s scribe and the chief priest’s officer would come, empty the chest, take it, and return it to its place. Thus they did daily and collected much money. v12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of יַהְוֶה; and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of יַהְוֶה, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of יַהְוֶה. v13 So the workmen labored, and the repair work progressed in their hands, and they restored the house of the Almighty according to its specifications, and strengthened it. v14 And when they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; and it was made into utensils for the house of יַהְוֶה, utensils for the service and the burnt offering, and pans and utensils of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of יַהְוֶה continually all the days of Jehoiada. v15 Now when Jehoiada reached a ripe old age he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old at his death. v16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done well in Israel and to the Almighty and His house. v17 But after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and bowed down to the king, and the king listened to them. v18 And they abandoned the house of יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols; so wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their guilt. v19 Yet He sent prophets to them to bring them back to יַהְוֶה; though they testified against them, they would not listen. v20 Then the Spirit of the Almighty came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people and said to them, “Thus the Almighty has said, ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of יַהְוֶה and do not prosper? Because you have forsaken יַהְוֶה, He has also forsaken you.’” v21 So they conspired against him and at the command of the king they stoned him to death in the court of the house of יַהְוֶה. v22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which his father Jehoiada had shown him, but he murdered his son. And as he died he said, “May יַהְוֶה see and avenge!” v23 Now it came about at the turn of the year that the army of the Arameans came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, destroyed all the officials of the people from among the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. v24 Indeed the army of the Arameans came with a small number of men; yet יַהְוֶה delivered a very great army into their hands, because they had forsaken יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash. v25 And when they had departed from him (for they left him very sick), his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and murdered him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. v26 Now these are those who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess. v27 As to his sons and the many oracles against him and the rebuilding of the house of the Almighty, behold, they are written in the treatise of the Book of the Kings. Then Amaziah his son became king in his place.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v25

 

25:1 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. v2 And he did right in the sight of יַהְוֶה, yet not with a whole heart. v3 Now it came about as soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, that he killed his servants who had slain his father the king. v4 However, he did not put their children to death, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, which יַהְוֶה commanded, saying, “Fathers shall not be put to death for sons, nor sons be put to death for fathers, but each shall be put to death for his own sin.” v5 Moreover, Amaziah assembled Judah and appointed them according to their fathers’ households under commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds throughout Judah and Benjamin; and he took a census of those from twenty years old and upward, and found them to be v300,000 choice men, able to go to war and handle spear and shield. v6 He hired also v100,000 valiant warriors out of Israel for one hundred talents of silver. v7 But a man of the Almighty came to him saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for יַהְוֶה is not with Israel nor with any of the sons of Ephraim. v8 “But if you do go, do it, be strong for the battle; yet the Almighty will bring you down before the enemy, for the Almighty has power to help and to bring down.” v9 And Amaziah said to the man of the Almighty, “But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of the Almighty answered, “ יַהְוֶה has much more to give you than this.” v10 Then Amaziah dismissed them, the troops which came to him from Ephraim, to go home; so their anger burned against Judah and they returned home in fierce anger. v11 Now Amaziah strengthened himself, and led his people forth, and went to the Valley of Salt, and struck down v10,000 of the sons of Seir. v12 The sons of Judah also captured v10,000 alive and brought them to the top of the cliff, and threw them down from the top of the cliff so that they were all dashed to pieces. v13 But the troops whom Amaziah sent back from going with him to battle, raided the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Beth-horon, and struck down v3,000 of them, and plundered much spoil. v14 Now it came about after Amaziah came from slaughtering the Edomites that he brought the gods of the sons of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down before them, and burned incense to them. v15 Then the anger of יַהְוֶה burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people who have not delivered their own people from your hand?” v16 And it came about as he was talking with him that the king said to him, “Have we appointed you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” Then the prophet stopped and said, “I know that the Almighty has planned to destroy you, because you have done this, and have not listened to my counsel.” v17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, the king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us face each other.” v18 And Joash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thorn bush which was in Lebanon sent to the cedar which was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trampled the thorn bush. v19 “You said, ‘Behold, you have defeated Edom.’ And your heart has become proud in boasting. Now stay at home; for why should you provoke trouble that you, even you, should fall and Judah with you?” v20 But Amaziah would not listen, for it was from the Almighty, that He might deliver them into the hand of Joash because they had sought the gods of Edom. v21 So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh, which belonged to Judah. v22 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and they fled each to his tent. v23 Then Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and tore down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, v400 cubits. v24 And he took all the gold and silver, and all the utensils which were found in the house of the Almighty with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria. v25 And Amaziah, the son of Joash king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Joash, son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. v26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from first to last, behold, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel? v27 And from the time that Amaziah turned away from following יַהְוֶה they conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there. v28 Then they brought him on horses and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v26

 

26:1 And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah. v2 He built Eloth and restored it to Judah after the king slept with his fathers. v3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Jechiliah of Jerusalem. v4 And he did right in the sight of יַהְוֶה according to all that his father Amaziah had done. v5 And he continued to seek the Almighty in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of the Almighty; and as long as he sought יַהְוֶה, the Almighty prospered him. v6 Now he went out and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the area of Ashdod and among the Philistines. v7 And the Almighty helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur-baal, and the Meunites. v8 The Ammonites also gave tribute to Uzziah, and his fame extended to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong. v9 Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the corner buttress and fortified them. v10 And he built towers in the wilderness and hewed many cisterns, for he had much livestock, both in the lowland and in the plain. He also had plowmen and vinedressers in the hill country and the fertile fields, for he loved the soil. v11 Moreover, Uzziah had an army ready for battle, which entered combat by divisions, according to the number of their muster, prepared by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the official, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s officers. v12 The total number of the heads of the households, of valiant warriors, was v2,600. v13 And under their direction was an elite army of v307,500, who could wage war with great power, to help the king against the enemy. v14 Moreover, Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows and sling stones. v15 And in Jerusalem he made engines of war invented by skillful men to be on the towers and on the corners, for the purpose of shooting arrows and great stones. Hence his fame spread afar, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong. v16 But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to יַהְוֶה his Almighty, for he entered the temple of יַהְוֶה to burn incense on the altar of incense. v17 Then Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of יַהְוֶה, valiant men. v18 And they opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to יַהְוֶה, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful, and will have no honor from יַהְוֶה Almighty.” v19 But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of יַהְוֶה, beside the altar of incense. v20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous on his forehead; and they hurried him out of there, and he himself also hastened to get out because יַהְוֶה had smitten him. v21 And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death; and he lived in a separate house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the house of יַהְוֶה. And Jotham his son was over the king’s house judging the people of the land. v22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first to last, the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, has written. v23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the grave which belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” And Jotham his son became king in his place.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v27

 

27:1 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. v2 And he did right in the sight of יַהְוֶה, according to all that his father Uzziah had done; however he did not enter the temple of יַהְוֶה. But the people continued acting corruptly. v3 He built the upper gate of the house of יַהְוֶה, and he built extensively the wall of Ophel. v4 Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and he built fortresses and towers on the wooded hills. v5 He fought also with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed over them so that the Ammonites gave him during that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand kors of wheat and ten thousand of barley. The Ammonites also paid him this amount in the second and in the third year. v6 So Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways before יַהְוֶה his Almighty. v7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, even all his wars and his acts, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. v8 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. v9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Ahaz his son became king in his place.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v28

 

28:1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do right in the sight of יַהְוֶה as David his father had done. v2 But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; he also made molten images for the Baals. v3 Moreover, he burned incense in the valley of Ben-hinnom, and burned his sons in fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom יַהְוֶה had driven out before the sons of Israel. v4 And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree. v5 Wherefore, יַהְוֶה his Almighty delivered him into the hand of the king of Aram; and they defeated him and carried away from him a great number of captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who inflicted him with heavy casualties. v6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah v120,000 in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken יַהְוֶה Almighty of their fathers. v7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king’s son, and Azrikam the ruler of the house and Elkanah the second to the king. v8 And the sons of Israel carried away captive of their brethren v200,000 women, sons, and daughters; and took also a great deal of spoil from them, and they brought the spoil to Samaria. v9 But a prophet of יַהְוֶה was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out to meet the army which came to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of your fathers, was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage which has even reached heaven. v10 “And now you are proposing to subjugate for yourselves the people of Judah and Jerusalem for male and female slaves. Surely, do you not have transgressions of your own against יַהְוֶה your Almighty? v11 “Now therefore, listen to me and return the captives whom you captured from your brothers, for the burning anger of יַהְוֶה is against you.” v12 Then some of the heads of the sons of Ephraim— Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai— arose against those who were coming from the battle, v13 and said to them, “You must not bring the captives in here, for you are proposing to bring upon us guilt against יַהְוֶה adding to our sins and our guilt; for our guilt is great so that His burning anger is against Israel.” v14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the officers and all the assembly. v15 Then the men who were designated by name arose, took the captives, and they clothed all their naked ones from the spoil; and they gave them clothes and sandals, fed them and gave them drink, anointed them with oil, led all their feeble ones on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers; then they returned to Samaria. v16 At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria for help. v17 For again the Edomites had come and attacked Judah, and carried away captives. v18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the Negev of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, and Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages, and they settled there. v19 For יַהְוֶה humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had brought about a lack of restraint in Judah and was very unfaithful to יַהְוֶה. v20 So Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him. v21 Although Ahaz took a portion out of the house of יַהְוֶה and out of the palace of the king and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria, it did not help him. v22 Now in the time of his distress this same King Ahaz became yet more unfaithful to יַהְוֶה. v23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they became the downfall of him and all Israel. v24 Moreover, when Ahaz gathered together the utensils of the house of the Almighty, he cut the utensils of the house of the Almighty in pieces; and he closed the doors of the house of יַהְוֶה, and made altars for himself in every corner of Jerusalem. v25 And in every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of his fathers, to anger. v26 Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. v27 So Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, for they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel; and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v29

 

29:1 Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. v2 And he did right in the sight of יַהְוֶה, according to all that his father David had done. v3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of יַהְוֶה and repaired them. v4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them into the square on the east. v5 Then he said to them, “Listen to me, O Levites. Consecrate yourselves now, and consecrate the house of יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of your fathers, and carry the uncleanness out from the holy place. v6 “For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done evil in the sight of יַהְוֶה our Almighty, and have forsaken Him and turned their faces away from the dwelling place of יַהְוֶה, and have turned their backs. v7 “They have also shut the doors of the porch and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the Almighty of Israel. v8 “Therefore the wrath of יַהְוֶה was against Judah and Jerusalem, and He has made them an object of terror, of horror, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes. v9 “For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. v10 “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with יַהְוֶה Almighty of Israel, that His burning anger may turn away from us. v11 “My sons, do not be negligent now, for יַהְוֶה has chosen you to stand before Him, to minister to Him, and to be His ministers and burn incense.” v12 Then the Levites arose: Mahath, the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, from the sons of the Kohathites; and from the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and from the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah; v13 and from the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel; and from the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; v14 and from the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei; and from the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. v15 And they assembled their brothers, consecrated themselves, and went in to cleanse the house of יַהְוֶה, according to the commandment of the king by the words of יַהְוֶה. v16 So the priests went in to the inner part of the house of יַהְוֶה to cleanse it, and every unclean thing which they found in the temple of יַהְוֶה they brought out to the court of the house of יַהְוֶה. Then the Levites received it to carry out to the Kidron valley. v17 Now they began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they entered the porch of יַהְוֶה. Then they consecrated the house of יַהְוֶה in eight days, and finished on the sixteenth day of the first month. v18 Then they went in to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed the whole house of יַהְוֶה, the altar of burnt offering with all of its utensils, and the table of showbread with all of its utensils. v19 “Moreover, all the utensils which King Ahaz had discarded during his reign in his unfaithfulness, we have prepared and consecrated; and behold, they are before the altar of יַהְוֶה.” v20 Then King Hezekiah arose early and assembled the princes of the city and went up to the house of יַהְוֶה. v21 And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and Judah. And he ordered the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of יַהְוֶה. v22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. They also slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar; they slaughtered the lambs also and sprinkled the blood on the altar. v23 Then they brought the male goats of the sin offering before the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them. v24 And the priests slaughtered them and purged the altar with their blood to atone for all Israel, for the king ordered the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel. v25 He then stationed the Levites in the house of יַהְוֶה with cymbals, with harps, and with lyres, according to the command of David and of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for the command was from יַהְוֶה through His prophets. v26 And the Levites stood with the musical instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. v27 Then Hezekiah gave the order to offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song to יַהְוֶה also began with the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David, king of Israel. v28 While the whole assembly worshiped, the singers also sang and the trumpets sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. v29 Now at the completion of the burnt offerings, the king and all who were present with him bowed down and worshiped. v30 Moreover, King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to יַהְוֶה with the words of David and Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with joy, and bowed down and worshiped. v31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to יַהְוֶה, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of יַהְוֶה.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all those who were willing brought burnt offerings. v32 And the number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was v70 bulls, v100 rams, and v200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to יַהְוֶה. v33 And the consecrated things were v600 bulls and v3,000 sheep. v34 But the priests were too few, so that they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was completed, and until the other priests had consecrated themselves. For the Levites were more conscientious to consecrate themselves than the priests. v35 And there were also many burnt offerings with the fat of the peace offerings and with the libations for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of יַהְוֶה was established again. v36 Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what the Almighty had prepared for the people, because the thing came about suddenly.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v30

 

30:1 Now Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of יַהְוֶה at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover to יַהְוֶה Almighty of Israel. v2 For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month, v3 since they could not celebrate it at that time, because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient numbers, nor had the people been gathered to Jerusalem. v4 Thus the thing was right in the sight of the king and all the assembly. v5 So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout all Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to celebrate the Passover to יַהְוֶה Almighty of Israel at Jerusalem. For they had not celebrated it in great numbers as it was prescribed. v6 And the couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the hand of the king and his princes, even according to the command of the king, saying, “O sons of Israel, return to יַהְוֶה Almighty of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that He may return to those of you who escaped and are left from the hand of the kings of Assyria. v7 “And do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were unfaithful to יַהְוֶה Almighty of their fathers, so that He made them a horror, as you see. v8 “Now do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to יַהְוֶה and enter His sanctuary which He has consecrated forever, and serve יַהְוֶה your Almighty, that His burning anger may turn away from you. v9 “For if you return to יַהְוֶה, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive, and will return to this land. For יַהְוֶה your Almighty is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.” v10 So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. v11 Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. v12 The hand of the Almighty was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of יַהְוֶה. v13 Now many people were gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very large assembly. v14 And they arose and removed the altars which were in Jerusalem; they also removed all the incense altars and cast them into the brook Kidron. v15 Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth of the second month. And the priests and Levites were ashamed of themselves and consecrated themselves, and brought burnt offerings to the house of יַהְוֶה. v16 And they stood at their stations after their custom, according to the law of Moses the man of the Almighty; the priests sprinkled the blood which they received from the hand of the Levites. v17 For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves; therefore, the Levites were over the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was unclean, in order to consecrate them to יַהְוֶה. v18 For a multitude of the people, even many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than prescribed. For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good יַהְוֶה pardon v19 everyone who prepares his heart to seek the Almighty, יַהְוֶה Almighty of his fathers, though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.” v20 So יַהְוֶה heard Hezekiah and healed the people. v21 And the sons of Israel present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, and the Levites and the priests praised יַהְוֶה day after day with loud instruments to יַהְוֶה. v22 Then Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good insight in the things of יַהְוֶה. So they ate for the appointed seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to יַהְוֶה Almighty of their fathers. v23 Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate the feast another seven days, so they celebrated the seven days with joy. v24 For Hezekiah king of Judah had contributed to the assembly v1,000 bulls and v7,000 sheep, and the princes had contributed to the assembly v1,000 bulls and v10,000 sheep; and a large number of priests consecrated themselves. v25 And all the assembly of Judah rejoiced, with the priests and the Levites, and all the assembly that came from Israel, both the sojourners who came from the land of Israel and those living in Judah. v26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, because there was nothing like this in Jerusalem since the days of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel. v27 Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer came to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v31

 

31:1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherim, and pulled down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the sons of Israel returned to their cities, each to his possession. v2 And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites by their divisions, each according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister and to give thanks and to praise in the gates of the camp of יַהְוֶה. v3 He also appointed the king’s portion of his goods for the burnt offerings, namely, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths and for the new moons and for the fixed festivals, as it is written in the law of יַהְוֶה. v4 Also he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the law of יַהְוֶה. v5 And as soon as the order spread, the sons of Israel provided in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of all. v6 And the sons of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah, also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of sacred gifts which were consecrated to יַהְוֶה their Almighty, and placed them in heaps. v7 In the third month they began to make the heaps, and finished them by the seventh month. v8 And when Hezekiah and the rulers came and saw the heaps, they blessed יַהְוֶה and His people Israel. v9 Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. v10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok said to him, “Since the contributions began to be brought into the house of יַהְוֶה, we have had enough to eat with plenty left over, for יַהְוֶה has blessed His people, and this great quantity is left over.” v11 Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in the house of יַהְוֶה, and they prepared them. v12 And they faithfully brought in the contributions and the tithes and the consecrated things; and Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge of them and his brother Shimei was second. v13 And Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the authority of Conaniah and Shimei his brother by the appointment of King Hezekiah, and Azariah was the chief officer of the house of the Almighty. v14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the eastern gate, was over the freewill offerings of the Almighty, to apportion the contributions for יַהְוֶה and the most holy things. v15 And under his authority were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah in the cities of the priests, to distribute faithfully their portions to their brothers by divisions, whether great or small, v16 without regard to their genealogical enrollment, to the males from thirty years old and upward— everyone who entered the house of יַהְוֶה for his daily obligations— for their work in their duties according to their divisions; v17 as well as the priests who were enrolled genealogically according to their fathers’ households, and the Levites from twenty years old and upwards, by their duties and their divisions. v18 And the genealogical enrollment included all their little children, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, for the whole assembly, for they consecrated themselves faithfully in holiness. v19 Also for the sons of Aaron the priests who were in the pasture lands of their cities, or in each and every city, there were men who were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to everyone genealogically enrolled among the Levites. v20 And thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah; and he did what was good, right, and true before יַהְוֶה his Almighty. v21 And every work which he began in the service of the house of the Almighty in law and in commandment, seeking his Almighty, he did with all his heart and prospered.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v32

 

32:1 After these acts of faithfulness Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and besieged the fortified cities, and thought to break into them for himself. v2 Now when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that he intended to make war on Jerusalem, v3 he decided with his officers and his warriors to cut off the supply of water from the springs which were outside the city, and they helped him. v4 So many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream which flowed through the region, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find abundant water?” v5 And he took courage and rebuilt all the wall that had been broken down, and erected towers on it, and built another outside wall, and strengthened the Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in great number. v6 And he appointed military officers over the people, and gathered them to him in the square at the city gate, and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, v7 “Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria, nor because of all the multitude which is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. v8 “With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is יַהְוֶה our Almighty to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. v9 After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem while he was besieging Lachish with all his forces with him, against Hezekiah king of Judah and against all Judah who were at Jerusalem, saying, v10 “Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, ‘On what are you trusting that you are remaining in Jerusalem under siege? v11 ‘Is not Hezekiah misleading you to give yourselves over to die by hunger and by thirst, saying, “ יַהְוֶה our Almighty will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria “? v12 ‘Has not the same Hezekiah taken away His high places and His altars, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, “You shall worship before one altar, and on it you shall burn incense “? v13 ‘Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of the lands able at all to deliver their land from my hand? v14 ‘Who was there among all the gods of those nations which my fathers utterly destroyed who could deliver his people out of my hand, that your Almighty should be able to deliver you from my hand? v15 ‘Now therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you like this, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less shall your Almighty deliver you from my hand?’” v16 And his servants spoke further against יַהְוֶה Almighty and against His servant Hezekiah. v17 He also wrote letters to insult יַהְוֶה Almighty of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying, “As the gods of the nations of the lands have not delivered their people from my hand, so the Almighty of Hezekiah shall not deliver His people from my hand.” v18 And they called this out with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, so that they might take the city. v19 And they spoke of the Almighty of Jerusalem as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of men’s hands. v20 But King Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed about this and cried out to heaven. v21 And יַהְוֶה sent an angel who destroyed every mighty warrior, commander and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned in shame to his own land. And when he had entered the temple of his god, some of his own children killed him there with the sword. v22 So יַהְוֶה saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side. v23 And many were bringing gifts to יַהְוֶה at Jerusalem and choice presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations thereafter. v24 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill; and he prayed to יַהְוֶה, and יַהְוֶה spoke to him and gave him a sign. v25 But Hezekiah gave no return for the benefit he received, because his heart was proud; therefore wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. v26 However,Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of יַהְוֶה did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah. v27 Now Hezekiah had immense riches and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuable articles, v28 storehouses also for the produce of grain, wine and oil, pens for all kinds of cattle and sheepfolds for the flocks. v29 And he made cities for himself, and acquired flocks and herds in abundance; for the Almighty had given him very great wealth. v30 It was Hezekiah who stopped the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all that he did. v31 And even in the matter of the envoys of the rulers of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that had happened in the land, the Almighty left him alone only to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart. v32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his deeds of devotion, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. v33 So Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper section of the tombs of the sons of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. And his son Manasseh became king in his place.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v33

 

33:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. v2 And he did evil in the sight of יַהְוֶה according to the abominations of the nations whom יַהְוֶה dispossessed before the sons of Israel. v3 For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; he also erected altars for the Baals and made Asherim, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. v4 And he built altars in the house of יַהְוֶה of which יַהְוֶה had said, “My name shall be in Jerusalem forever.” v5 For he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of יַהְוֶה. v6 And he made his sons pass through the fire in the valley of Ben-hinnom; and he practiced witchcraft, used divination, practiced sorcery, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of יַהְוֶה, provoking Him to anger. v7 Then he put the carved image of the idol which he had made in the house of the Almighty, of which the Almighty had said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever; v8 and I will not again remove the foot of Israel from the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them according to all the law, the statutes, and the ordinances given through Moses.” v9 Thus Manasseh misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom יַהְוֶה destroyed before the sons of Israel. v10 And יַהְוֶה spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. v11 Therefore יַהְוֶה brought the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria against them, and they captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze chains, and took him to Babylon. v12 And when he was in distress, he entreated יַהְוֶה his Almighty and humbled himself greatly before the Almighty of his fathers. v13 When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that יַהְוֶה was Almighty. v14 Now after this he built the outer wall of the city of David on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance of the Fish Gate; and he encircled the Ophel with it and made it very high. Then he put army commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah. v15 He also removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of יַהְוֶה, as well as all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of יַהְוֶה and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside the city. v16 And he set up the altar of יַהְוֶה and sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it; and he ordered Judah to serve יַהְוֶה Almighty of Israel. v17 Nevertheless the people still sacrificed in the high places, although only to יַהְוֶה their Almighty. v18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh even his prayer to his Almighty, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of יַהְוֶה Almighty of Israel, behold, they are among the records of the kings of Israel. v19 His prayer also and how the Almighty was entreated by him, and all his sin, his unfaithfulness, and the sites on which he built high places and erected the Asherim and the carved images, before he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the records of the Hozai. v20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house. And Amon his son became king in his place. v21 Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. v22 And he did evil in the sight of יַהְוֶה as Manasseh his father had done, and Amon sacrificed to all the carved images which his father Manasseh had made, and he served them. v23 Moreover, he did not humble himself before יַהְוֶה as his father Manasseh had done, but Amon multiplied guilt. v24 Finally his servants conspired against him and put him to death in his own house. v25 But the people of the land killed all the conspirators against King Amon, and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v34

 

34:1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. v2 And he did right in the sight of יַהְוֶה, and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left. v3 For in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the Almighty of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, the carved images, and the molten images. v4 And they tore down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and the incense altars that were high above them he chopped down; also the Asherim, the carved images, and the molten images he broke in pieces and ground to powder and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. v5 Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem. v6 And in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, even as far as Naphtali, in their surrounding ruins, v7 he also tore down the altars and beat the Asherim and the carved images into powder, and chopped down all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem. v8 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 an official of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of יַהְוֶה his Almighty. v9 And they came to Hilkiah the high priest and delivered the money that was brought into the house of the Almighty, which the Levites, the doorkeepers, had collected from Manasseh and Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. v10 Then they gave it into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of יַהְוֶה, and the workmen who were working in the house of יַהְוֶה used it to restore and repair the house. v11 They in turn gave it to the carpenters and to the builders to buy quarried stone and timber for couplings and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had let go to ruin. v12 And the men did the work faithfully with foremen over them to supervise: Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites of the sons of Merari, Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of the Kohathites, and the Levites, all who were skillful with musical instruments. v13 They were also over the burden bearers, and supervised all the workmen from job to job; and some of the Levites were scribes and officials and gatekeepers. v14 When they were bringing out the money which had been brought into the house of יַהְוֶה, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of יַהְוֶה given by Moses. v15 And Hilkiah responded and said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the house of יַהְוֶה.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan. v16 Then Shaphan brought the book to the king and reported further word to the king, saying, “Everything that was entrusted to your servants they are doing. v17 “They have also emptied out the money which was found in the house of יַהְוֶה, and have delivered it into the hands of the supervisors and the workmen.” v18 Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, “Hilkiah the priest gave me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. v19 And it came about when the king heard the words of the law that he tore his clothes. v20 Then the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, v21 “Go, inquire of יַהְוֶה for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book which has been found; for great is the wrath of יַהְוֶה which is poured out on us because our fathers have not observed the word of יַהְוֶה, to do according to all that is written in this book.” v22 So Hilkiah and those whom the king had told went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, the keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter); and they spoke to her regarding this. v23 And she said to them, “Thus says יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, v24 thus says יַהְוֶה, “Behold, I am bringing evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the curses written in the book which they have read in the presence of the king of Judah. v25 “Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place, and it shall not be quenched.”‘ v26 “But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of יַהְוֶה, thus you will say to him, ‘Thus says יַהְוֶה Almighty of Israel regarding the words which you have heard, v27 “Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the Almighty, when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes, and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares יַהְוֶה. v28 “Behold, I will gather you to your fathers and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, so your eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.”’” And they brought back word to the king. v29 Then the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. v30 And the king went up to the house of יַהְוֶה and all the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people, from the greatest to the least; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of יַהְוֶה. v31 Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before יַהְוֶה to walk after יַהְוֶה, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant written in this book. v32 Moreover, he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand with him. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of the Almighty, the Almighty of their fathers. v33 And Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the sons of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel to serve יַהְוֶה their Almighty. Throughout his lifetime they did not turn from following יַהְוֶה Almighty of their fathers.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v35

 

35:1 Then Josiah celebrated the Passover to יַהְוֶה in Jerusalem, and they slaughtered the Passover animals on the fourteenth day of the first month. v2 And he set the priests in their offices and encouraged them in the service of the house of יַהְוֶה. v3 He also said to the Levites who taught all Israel and who were holy to יַהְוֶה, “Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built; it will be a burden on your shoulders no longer. Now serve יַהְוֶה your Almighty and His people Israel. v4 “And prepare yourselves by your fathers’ households in your divisions, according to the writing of David king of Israel and according to the writing of his son Solomon. v5 “Moreover, stand in the holy place according to the sections of the fathers’ households of your brethren the lay people, and according to the Levites, by division of a father’s household. v6 “Now slaughter the Passover animals, sanctify yourselves, and prepare for your brethren to do according to the word of יַהְוֶה by Moses.” v7 And Josiah contributed to the lay people, to all who were present, flocks of lambs and kids, all for the Passover offerings, numbering v30,000 plus v3,000 bulls; these were from the king’s possessions. v8 His officers also contributed a freewill offering to the people, the priests, and the Levites. Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, the officials of the house of the Almighty, gave to the priests for the Passover offerings v2,600 from the flocks and v300 bulls. v9 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the officers of the Levites, contributed to the Levites for the Passover offerings v5,000 from the flocks and v500 bulls. v10 So the service was prepared, and the priests stood at their stations and the Levites by their divisions according to the king’s command. v11 And they slaughtered the Passover animals, and while the priests sprinkled the blood received from their hand, the Levites skinned them. v12 Then they removed the burnt offerings that they might give them to the sections of the fathers’ households of the lay people to present to יַהְוֶה, as it is written in the book of Moses. They did this also with the bulls. v13 So they roasted the Passover animals on the fire according to the ordinance, and they boiled the holy things in pots, in kettles, in pans, and carried them speedily to all the lay people. v14 And afterwards they prepared for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the sons of Aaron, were offering the burnt offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron. v15 The singers, the sons of Asaph, were also at their stations according to the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer; and the gatekeepers at each gate did not have to depart from their service, because the Levites their brethren prepared for them. v16 So all the service of יַהְוֶה was prepared on that day to celebrate the Passover, and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of יַהְוֶה according to the command of King Josiah. v17 Thus the sons of Israel who were present celebrated the Passover at that time, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days. v18 And there had not been celebrated a Passover like it in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet; nor had any of the kings of Israel celebrated such a Passover as Josiah did with the priests, the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. v19 In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign this Passover was celebrated. v20 After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt came up to make war at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to engage him. v21 But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What have we to do with each other, O King of Judah? I am not coming against you today but against the house with which I am at war, and the Almighty has ordered me to hurry. Stop for your own sake from interfering with the Almighty who is with me, that He may not destroy you.” v22 However, Josiah would not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to make war with him; nor did he listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of the Almighty, but came to make war on the plain of Megiddo. v23 And the archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded.” v24 So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in the second chariot which he had, and brought him to Jerusalem where he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. v25 Then Jeremiah chanted a lament for Josiah. And all the male and female singers speak about Josiah in their lamentations to this day. And they made them an ordinance in Israel; behold, they are also written in the Lamentations. v26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his deeds of devotion as written in the law of יַהְוֶה, v27 and his acts, first to last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

 

2 Chronicles Chapter v36

 

36:1 Then the people of the land took Joahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in place of his father in Jerusalem. v2 Joahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. v3 Then the king of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem, and imposed on the land a fine of one hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold. v4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Joahaz his brother and brought him to Egypt. v5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and he did evil in the sight of יַהְוֶה his Almighty. v6 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him and bound him with bronze chains to take him to Babylon. v7 Nebuchadnezzar also brought some of the articles of the house of יַהְוֶה to Babylon and put them in his temple at Babylon. v8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim and the abominations which he did, and what was found against him, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son became king in his place. v9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem, and he did evil in the sight of יַהְוֶה. v10 And at the turn of the year King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon with the valuable articles of the house of יַהְוֶה, and he made his kinsman Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem. v11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. v12 And he did evil in the sight of יַהְוֶה his Almighty; he did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet who spoke for יַהְוֶה. v13 And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar who had made him swear allegiance by the Almighty. But he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to יַהְוֶה Almighty of Israel. v14 Furthermore, all the officials of the priests and the people were very unfaithful following all the abominations of the nations; and they defiled the house of יַהְוֶה which He had sanctified in Jerusalem. v15 And יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place; v16 but they continually mocked the messengers of the Almighty, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of יַהְוֶה arose against His people, until there was no remedy. v17 Therefore He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or infirm; He gave them all into his hand. v18 And all the articles of the house of the Almighty, great and small, and the treasures of the house of יַהְוֶה, and the treasures of the king and of his officers, he brought them all to Babylon. v19 Then they burned the house of the Almighty, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its fortified buildings with fire, and destroyed all its valuable articles. v20 And those who had escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon; and they were servants to him and to his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, v21 to fulfill the word of יַהְוֶה by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept sabbath until seventy years were complete. v22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia— in order to fulfill the word of יַהְוֶה by the mouth of Jeremiah— יַהְוֶה stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, v23 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘ יַהְוֶה, the Almighty of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may יַהְוֶה his Almighty be with him, and let him go up!’”