The Book Of 2 Chronicles

1 Then Solomon the son of David was confirmed in his kingdom: and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him highly.

2 And Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands, and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to all the governors in all Israel, even the chief fathers.

3 So Solomon and all the congregation with him went to the high place that was at Gibeon: for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness.

4 But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjath-jearim, when David had made preparation for it: for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.

5 Moreover the brazen altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur had made, did he set before the tabernacle of the Lord: and Solomon and the congregation sought it.

6 And Solomon offered there before the Lord upon the brazen altar that was in the tabernacle of the congregation: even a thousand burnt offerings offered he upon it.

7 The same night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

8 And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast showed great mercy unto David my father and hast made me to reign in his stead.

9 Now therefore, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be true: for thou hast made me king over a great people, like to the dust of the earth.

10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and go in before this people: for who can judge this thy great people?

11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, treasures nor honor, nor the lives of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life, but hast asked for thee wisdom and knowledge that thou mightest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king,

12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee, and I will give thee riches and treasures and honor, so that there hath not been the like among the kings which were before thee, neither after thee shall there be the like.

13 Then Solomon came from the high place, that was at Gibeon, to Jerusalem from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.

14 And Solomon gathered the chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

15 And the king gave silver and gold at Jerusalem as stones, and gave cedar trees as the wild fig trees, that are abundantly in the plain.

16 Also Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt and fine linen: the king’s merchants received the fine linen for a price.

17 They came up also and brought out of Egypt some chariot, worth six hundred shekels of silver, that is an horse for an hundred and fifty: and thus they brought horses to all the kings of the Hittites, and to the kings of Aram [Syria] by their means.

II Chronicles Chapter 2

1 Then Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the Lord, and an house for his kingdom.

2 And Solomon told out seventy thousand that bear burdens, and fourscore thousand men to hew stones in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.

3 And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyrus, saying, As thou hast done to David my father, and didst send him cedar trees to build him an house to dwell in, so do to me.

4 Behold, I build an house unto the name of the Lord my God, to sanctify it unto him, and to burn sweet incense before him, and for the continual showbread, and for the burnt offerings of the morning and evening, on the Sabbath days, and in the new months, and in the solemn feasts of the Lord our God: this is a perpetual thing for Israel.

5 And the house which I build, is great: for great is our God above all gods.

6 Who is he then that can be able to build him an house, when the heaven, and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him? Who am I then that I should build him an house? But I do it to burn incense before him.

7 Send me now therefore a cunning man that can work in gold, in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson and blue silk, and that can grave in graven work with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father hath prepared.

8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees and Algummim trees from Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to hew timber in Lebanon: and behold, my servants shall be with thine,

9 That they may prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I do build, is great and wonderful.

10 And behold, I will give to thy servants the cutters and the hewers of timber twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.

11 Then Huram king of Tyrus answered in writing which he sent to Solomon, Because the Lord hath loved his people, he hath made thee king over them.

12 Huram said moreover, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which made the heaven and the earth, and that hath given unto David the king a wise son, that hath discretion, prudence and understanding to build an house for the Lord, and a palace for his kingdom.

13 Now therefore I have sent a wise man, and of understanding of my father Huram's,

14 The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan: and his father was a man of Tyrus, and he can skill to work in gold, in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue silk, and in fine linen, and in crimson, and can grave in all graven works, and broider in all broidered work that shall be given him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father.

15 Now therefore the wheat and the barley, the oil and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants.

16 And we will cut wood in Lebanon as much as thou shalt need, and will bring it to thee in rafts by the sea to Joppa, so thou mayest carry them to Jerusalem.

17 And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering that his father David had numbered them: and they were found an hundred and three and fifty thousand, and six hundred.

18 And he set seventy thousand of them to the burden, and fourscore thousand to hew stones in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to cause the people to work.

II Chronicles Chapter 3

1 So Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, in mount Moriah which had been declared unto David his father, in the place that David prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

2 And he began to build in the second month and the second day, in the fourth year of his reign.

3 And these are the measures, whereon Solomon grounded to build the house of God: the length of cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits:

4 And the porch, that was before the length in the front of the breadth was twenty cubits, and the height was an hundred and twenty, and he overlaid it within with pure gold.

5 And the greater house he ceiled with fir tree which he overlaid with good gold, and graved thereon palm trees and chains.

6 And he overlaid the house with precious stone for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim.

7 The house, I say, the beams, posts, and walls thereof and the doors thereof overlaid he with gold, and graved cherubims upon the walls.

8 He made also the house of the most holy place: the length thereof was in the front of the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with the best gold, of six hundred talents.

9 And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold, and he overlaid the chambers with gold.

10 And in the house of the most holy place he made two cherubims wrought like children, and overlaid them with gold.

11 And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long: the one wing was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house, and the other wing five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.

12 Likewise the wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house, and the other wing five cubits joining to the wing of the other cherub.

13 The wings of these cherubims were spread abroad twenty cubits: they stood on their feet, and their faces were toward the house.

14 He made also the veil of blue silk and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.

15 And he made before the house two pillars of five and thirty cubits high: and the chapiter that was upon the top of each of them, was five cubits.

16 He made also chains for the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars, and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them among the chains.

17 And he set up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand and the other on the left, and called that on the right hand Jachin, and that on the left hand Boaz.

II Chronicles Chapter 4

1 And he made an altar of brass twenty cubits long, and twenty cubits broad, and ten cubits high.

2 And he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits high: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it about.

3 And under it was the fashion of oxen, which did compass it round about, ten in a cubit compassing the sea about: two rows of oxen were cast when it was molten.

4 It stood upon twelve oxen: three looked toward the north, and three looked toward the west, and three looked toward the south, and three looked toward the east, and the sea stood about upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.

5 And the thickness thereof was an hand breadth, and the brim thereof was like the work of the brim of a cup with flowers of lilies: it contained three thousand baths.

6 He made also ten cauldrons, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them, and to cleanse in them that which appertained to the burnt offerings: but the sea was for the priests to wash in.

7 And he made ten candlesticks of gold (according to their form) and put them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.

8 And he made ten tables, and put them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left: and he made an hundred basins of gold.

9 And he made the court of the priests, and the great court and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors thereof with brass.

10 And he set the sea on the right side eastward toward the south.

11 And Huram made pots and besoms and basins, and Huram finished the work that he should make for king Solomon for the house of God,

12 To wit, two pillars, and the bowls and the chapiters on the top of the two pillars, and two grates to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars:

13 And four hundred pomegranates for the two grates, two rows of pomegranates for every grate to cover the two bowls of the chapiters, that were upon the pillars.

14 He made also bases, and made cauldrons upon the bases:

15 And a sea, and twelve bulls under it:

16 Pots also and besoms, and flesh hooks, and all these vessels made Huram his father, to king Solomon for the house of the Lord, of shining brass.

17 In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them in clay between Succoth and Zeredathah.

18 And Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of brass could not be reckoned.

19 And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God: the golden altar also and the tables, whereon the showbread stood.

20 Moreover the candlesticks, with their lamps to burn them after the manner, before the oracle, of pure gold.

21 And the flowers and the lamps, and the snuffers of gold, which was fine gold.

22 And the hooks, and the basins, and the spoons, and the ash pans of pure gold: the entry also of the house and doors thereof within, even of the most holy place: and the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple were of gold.

II Chronicles Chapter 5

1 So was all the work finished that Solomon made for the house of the Lord, and Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, with the silver and the gold, and all the vessels, and put them among the treasures of the house of God.

2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel unto Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the city of David, which is Zion.

3 And all the men of Israel assembled unto the king at the feast: it was in the seventh month.

4 And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark.

5 And they carried up the ark and the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, those did the priests and Levites bring up.

6 And king Solomon and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him, were before the ark, offering sheep and bullocks, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude.

7 So the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord unto his place, into the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims.

8 For the cherubims stretched out their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the bars thereof above.

9 And they drew out the bars, that the ends of the bars might be seen out of the ark before the oracle, but they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.

10 Nothing was in the ark, save the two tables, which Moses gave at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.

11 And when the priests were come out of the sanctuary (for all the priests that were present, were sanctified and did not wait by course.

12 And the Levites the singers of all sorts, as of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, and of their sons and of their brethren, being clad in fine linen, stood with cymbals, and with viols and harps at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests blowing with trumpets:

13 And they were as one, blowing trumpets, and singing, and made one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lift up their voice with trumpets and with cymbals, and with instruments of music, and when they praised the Lord, singing, For he is good, because his mercy lasteth forever) then the house, even the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud,

14 So that the priests could not stand to minister, because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.

II Chronicles Chapter 6

1 Then Solomon said, The Lord hath said that he would dwell in the dark cloud:

2 And I have built thee an house to dwell in, an habitation for thee to dwell in forever.

3 And the king turned his face, and blessed all the congregation of Israel (for all the congregation of Israel stood there)

4 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying,

5 Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be there, neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:

6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there, and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

7 And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house unto the name of the Lord God of Israel,

8 But the Lord said to David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well, that thou wast so minded.

9 Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house, but thy son which shall come out of thy loins, he shall build an house unto my name.

10 And the Lord hath performed his word that he spake: and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel as the Lord promised, and have built an house to the name of the Lord God of Israel.

11 And I have set the ark there, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, that he made with the children of Israel.

12 And the king stood before the altar of the Lord, in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and stretched out his hands,

13 (For Solomon had made a brazen scaffold and set it in the midst of the court, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits of height, and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and stretched out his hands toward heaven)

14 And said, O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in heaven nor in earth, which keepest covenant, and mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their heart.

15 Thou that hast kept with thy servant David my father, that thou hast promised him: for thou spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as appeareth this day.

16 Therefore now Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father, that thou hast promised him, saying, Thou shalt not want a man in my sight, that shall sit upon the throne of Israel: so that thy sons take heed to their ways, to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.

17 And now, O Lord God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David.

18 (Is it true indeed that God will dwell with man on earth? Behold, the heavens, and the heavens of heavens are not able to contain thee: how much more unable is this house, which I have built?)

19 But have thou respect to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to hear the cry and prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee,

20 That thine eyes may be open toward this house day and night, even toward the place, whereof thou hast said, that thou wouldest put thy name there, that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer, which thy servant prayeth in this place.

21 Hear thou therefore the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they pray in this place: and hear thou in the place of thine habitation, even in heaven, and when thou hearest, be merciful.

22 When a man shall sin against his neighbor, and he lay upon him an oath to cause him to swear, and the swearer shall come before thine altar in this house,

23 Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, in recompensing the wicked to bring his way upon his head, and in justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

24 And when thy people Israel shall be overthrown before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and turn again, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication before thee in this house,

25 Then hear thou in heaven, and be merciful unto the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.

26 When heaven shall be shut up, and there shall be no rain, because they have sinned against thee, and shall pray in this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them,

27 Then hear thou in heaven, and pardon the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel (when thou hast taught them the good way wherein they may walk) and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.

28 When there shall be famine in the land, when there shall be pestilence, blasting, or mildew, when there shall be grasshopper, or caterpillar, when their enemy shall besiege them in the cities of their land, or any plague or any sickness,

29 Then what prayer and supplication so ever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own plague, and his own disease, and shall stretch forth his hands toward this house,

30 Hear thou then in heaven, thy dwelling place, and be merciful, and give every man according unto all his ways, as thou dost know his heart (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men)

31 That they may fear thee, and walk in thy ways as long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.

32 Moreover, as touching the stranger which is not of thy people Israel, who shall come out of a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm: when they shall come and pray in this house,

33 Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth for unto thee, that all the people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee like thy people Israel, and that they may know, that thy name is called upon in this house which I have built.

34 When thy people shall go out to battle against their enemies, by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray to thee, in the way toward this city, which thou hast chosen, even toward the house which I have built to thy name,

35 Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and judge their cause.

36 If they sin against thee ( for there is no man that sinneth not) and thou be angry with them and deliver them unto the enemies, and they take them and carry them away captive unto a land far or near,

37 If they turn again to their heart in the land whither they be carried in captives, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have transgressed and have done wickedly,

38 If they turn again to thee with all their heart, and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name,

39 Then hear thou in heaven, in the place of thine habitation their prayer and their supplication, and judge their cause, and be merciful unto thy people, which have sinned against thee.

40 Now my God, I beseech thee, let thine eyes be open, and thine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

41 Now therefore arise, O Lord God, to come into thy rest, thou, and the ark of thy strength: O Lord God, let thy priests be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.

42 O Lord God, refuse not the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies promised to David thy servant.

II Chronicles Chapter 7

1 And when Solomon had made an end of praying, fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices: and the glory of the Lord filled the house,

2 So that the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house.

3 And when all the children of Israel saw the fire, and the glory of the Lord come down upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the earth upon the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good, because his mercy lasteth forever.

4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord.

5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of two and twenty thousand bullocks, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

6 And the priests waited on their offices, and the Levites with the instruments of music of the Lord, which king David had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy lasteth forever: when David praised God by them, the priests also blew trumpets over against them: and all they of Israel stood by.

7 Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord: for there he had prepared burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brazen altar which Solomon had made, was not able to receive the burnt offering, and the meat offering, and the fat.

8 And Solomon made a feast at that time of seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath, unto the river of Egypt.

9 And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they had made the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.

10 And the three and twentieth day of the seventh month, he sent the people away into their tents, joyous and with glad heart, because of the goodness that the Lord had done for David and for Solomon, and for Israel his people.

11 So Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the Lord: and he prospered in his house.

12 And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night and said to him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place for myself to be an house of sacrifice.

13 If I shut the heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people,

14 If my people, among whom my name is called upon, do humble themselves, and pray, and seek my presence, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear in heaven, and be merciful to their sin, and will heal their land:

15 Then mine eyes shall be open and mine ears attent unto the prayer made in this place.

16 For I have now chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there forever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

17 And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, to do according unto all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments,

18 Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I made the covenant with David thy father, saying, Thou shalt not want a man to be ruler in Israel.

19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them,

20 Then will I pluck them up out of my land, which I have given them, and this house which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a common talk among all people.

21 And this house which is most high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it, so that he shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus to this land, and to this house?

22 And they shall answer, Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold on other gods, and have worshiped them, and served them, therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.

II Chronicles Chapter 8

1 And after twenty year when Solomon had built the house of the Lord, and his own house,

2 Then Solomon built the cities that Huram gave to Solomon, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.

3 And Solomon went to Hamath Zobah, and overcame it.

4 And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and repaired all the cities of store which he built in Hamath.

5 And he built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, cities defensed with walls, gates and bars:

6 Also Baalath, and all the cities of store that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and every pleasant place that Solomon had a mind to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.

7 And all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel,

8 But of their children which were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel had not consumed, even them did Solomon make tributaries until this day.

9 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work: for they were men of war, and his chief princes, and the captains of his chariots and of his horsemen.

10 So these were the chief of the officers which Solomon had, even two hundred and fifty that bear rule over the people.

11 Then Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David, into the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel: for it is holy, because that the ark of the Lord came unto it.

12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the Lord, on the altar of the Lord, which he had built before the porch,

13 To offer according to the commandment of Moses every day, in the Sabbaths, and in the new moons, and in the solemn feasts, three times in the year, that is, in the feast of the unleavened bread, and in the feast of the weeks, and in the feast of the tabernacles.

14 And he set the courses of the priests to their offices, according to the order of David his father, and the Levites in their watches, for to praise and minister before the priests every day, and the porters by their courses, at every gate: for so was the commandment of David the man of God.

15 And they declined not from the commandment of the king, concerning the priests and the Levites, touching all things, and touching the treasures.

16 Now Solomon had made provision for all the work, from the day of the foundation of the house of the Lord, until it was finished: so the house of the Lord was perfect.

17 Then went Solomon to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth by the seaside in the land of Edom.

18 And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants, ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea: and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and brought thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.

II Chronicles Chapter 9

1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great train, and camels that bear sweet odors and much gold, and precious stones: and when she came to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

2 And Solomon declared her all her questions, and there was nothing hid from Solomon, which he declared not unto her.

3 Then the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,

4 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the order of his waiters, and their apparel, and his butlers, and their apparel, and his burnt offerings which he offered in the house of the Lord, and she was greatly astonied.

5 And she said to the king, It was a true word which I heard in mine own land of thy sayings, and of thy wisdom:

6 Howbeit I believed not their report, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and behold, the one half of thy great wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.

7 Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand before thee alway, and hear thy wisdom.

8 Blessed be the Lord thy God, which loved thee, to set thee on his throne as king, in the stead of the Lord thy God: because thy God loveth Israel, to establish it forever, therefore hath he made thee king over them, to execute judgment and justice.

9 Then she gave the king sixscore talents of gold, and of sweet odors exceeding much and precious stones: neither was there such sweet odors since, as the queen of Sheba gave unto king Solomon.

10 And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon which brought gold from Ophir, brought Algummim wood and precious stones.

11 And the king made of the Algummim wood stairs in the house of the Lord, and in the king's house, and harps and viols for singers: and there was no such seen before in the land of Judah.

12 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba every pleasant thing that she asked, besides for that which she had brought unto the king: so she returned and went to her own country, both she, and her servants.

13 Also the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year, was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,

14 Besides that which chapmen and merchants brought: and all the kings of Arabia, and the princes of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.

15 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold, and six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target,

16 And three hundred shields of beaten gold: three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield, and the king put them in the house of the wood of Lebanon.

17 And the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.

18 And the throne had six steps, with a footstool of gold fastened to the throne, and stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions standing by the stays.

19 And twelve lions stood there on the six steps on either side: there was not the like made in any kingdom.

20 And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the wood of Lebanon were of pure gold: for silver was nothing esteemed in the days of Solomon.

21 For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram, every three year once came the ships of Tarshish, and brought gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

22 So king Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

23 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom that God had put in his heart.

24 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, armor, and sweet odors, horses, and mules, from year to year.

25 And Solomon had four thousand stalls of horses, and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

26 And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.

27 And the king gave silver in Jerusalem, as stones, and gave cedar trees as the wild fig trees, that are abundant in the plain.

28 And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands.

29 Concerning the rest of the acts of Solomon first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?

30 And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.

31 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

II Chronicles Chapter 10

1 Then Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem came all Israel to make him king.

2 And when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it, (which was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king) he returned out of Egypt.

3 And they sent and called him: so came Jeroboam and all Israel, and communed with Rehoboam, saying,

4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous servitude of thy father, and his sore yoke, that he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.

5 And he said to them, Depart yet three days, then come again unto me. And the people departed.

6 And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stand before Solomon his father, while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye that I may answer this people?

7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak loving words to them, they will be thy servants forever.

8 But he left the counsel of the ancient men that they had given him, and took counsel of the young men that were brought up with him, and waited on him.

9 And he said unto them, What counsel give ye, that we may answer this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us, lighter?

10 And the young men that were brought up with him, spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake to thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter for us: thus shalt thou say unto them, My least part shall be bigger than my father's loins.

11 Now whereas my father did burden you with a grievous yoke, I will yet increase your yoke: my father hath chastised you with rods, but I will correct you with scourges.

12 Then Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed saying, Come again to me the third day.

13 And the king answered them sharply: and king Rehoboam left the counsel of the ancient men,

14 And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke grievous, but I will increase it: my father chastised you with rods, but I will correct you with scourges.

15 So the king hearkened not unto the people: for it was the ordinance of God that the Lord might perform his saying, which he had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 So when all Israel saw that the king would not hear them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? For we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse. O Israel, every man to your tents: now see to thine own house, David. So all Israel departed to their tents.

17 Howbeit Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel, that dwelt in the cities of Judah.

18 Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute, and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died: then king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

19 And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

II Chronicles Chapter 11

1 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin nine score thousand chosen men of war to fight against Israel, and to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

2 But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

3 Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon king of Judah, and to all Israel that are in Judah, and Benjamin, saying,

4 Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. They obeyed therefore the word of the Lord, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built strong cities in Judah.

6 He built also Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

7 And Beth-zur, and Shochoh, and Adullam,

8 And Gath, and Maroshah, and Ziph,

9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

10 And Zorah, and Ajalon, and Hebron, which were in Judah and Benjamin, strong cities.

11 And he repaired the strong holds and put captains in them, and store of victual, and oil and wine.

12 And in all cities he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong: so Judah and Benjamin were his.

13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel, resorted unto him out of all their coasts.

14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and to Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them out from ministering in the priest's office unto the Lord.

15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils and for the calves which he had made.

16 And after the Levites there came to Jerusalem of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, to offer unto the Lord God of their fathers.

17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon mighty, three year long: for three year they walked in the way of David and Solomon.

18 And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse,

19 Which bear him sons Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.

20 And after her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom which bear him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

21 And Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines, and begat eight and twenty sons, and threescore daughters.

22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maacah the chief ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.

23 And he taught him: and dispersed all his sons throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin unto every strong city: and he gave them abundance of victual, and desired many wives.

II Chronicles Chapter 12

1 And when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and made it strong, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.

2 Therefore in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak the king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem (because they had transgressed against the Lord)

3 With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen, and the people were without number, that came with him from Egypt, even the Lubims, Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.

4 And he took the strong cities which were of Judah, and came unto Jerusalem.

5 Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together in Jerusalem, because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the Lord, Ye have forsaken me, therefore have I also left you in the hands of Shishak.

6 Then the princes of Israel, and the king humbled themselves, and said, The Lord is just.

7 And when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves, therefore I will not destroy them, but I will send them deliverance shortly, and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

8 Nevertheless they shall be his servants: so shall they know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the earth.

9 Then Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king’s house he took even all, and he carried away the shields of gold, which Solomon had made.

10 Instead whereof king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that waited at the door of the king’s house.

11 And when the king entered into the house of the Lord, the guard came and bear them and brought them again unto the guard chamber.

12 And because he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him, that he would not destroy all together. And also in Judah the things prospered.

13 So king Rehoboam was strong in Jerusalem and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty year old, when he began to reign, and reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess.

14 And he did evil: for he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.

15 The acts also of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and Iddo the seer, in rehearsing the genealogy? And there was war alway between Rehoboam and Jeroboam.

16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David, and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.

II Chronicles Chapter 13

1 In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.

2 He reigned three year in Jerusalem: (his mother’s name also was Michaiah [Maacah] the daughter of Uriel of Gibea) and there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

3 And Abijah set the battle in array with the army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men. Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men which were strong and valiant.

4 And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemeraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, O Jeroboam, and all Israel, hear you me,

5 Ought you not to know that the Lord God of Israel hath given the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?

6 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat the servant of Solomon the son of David is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord:

7 And there are gathered to him vain men and wicked, and made themselves strong against Rehoboam the son of Solomon: for Rehoboam was but a child and tender hearted, and could not resist them.

8 Now therefore ye think that ye be able to resist against the kingdom of the Lord, which is in the hands of the sons of David, and ye be a great multitude, and the golden calves are with you which Jeroboam made you for gods.

9 Have ye not driven away the priests of the Lord the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and have made you priests like the people of other countries? Whosoever cometh to consecrate with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.

10 But we belong unto the Lord our God, and have not forsaken him, and the priests the sons of Aaron minister unto the Lord, and the Levites in their office.

11 And they burn unto the Lord every morning and every evening burnt offerings and sweet incense, and the bread is set in order upon the pure table, and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the watch of the Lord our God: but ye have forsaken him.

12 And behold, this God is with us, as a captain, and his priests with the sounding trumpets, to cry an alarm against you. O ye children of Israel, fight not against the Lord God of your fathers: for ye shall not prosper.

13 But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to compass, and come behind them, when they were before Judah, and the ambushment behind them.

14 Then Judah looked, and behold, the battle was before and behind them, and they cried unto the Lord, and the priests blew with the trumpets,

15 And the men of Judah gave a shout: and even as the men of Judah shouted, God smote Jeroboam and also Israel before Abijah and Judah.

16 And the children of Israel fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hand.

17 And Abijah and his people slew a great slaughter of them, so that there fell down wounded of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.

18 So the children of Israel were brought under at that time: and the children of Judah prevailed, because they stayed upon the Lord God of their fathers.

19 And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, even Beth-el, and the villages thereof, and Jeshanah with her villages, and Ephron with her villages.

20 And Jeroboam recovered no strength again in the days of Abijah, but the Lord plagued him, and he died.

21 So Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat two and twenty sons, and sixteen daughters.

22 The rest of the acts of Abijah and his manners and his sayings are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.

II Chronicles Chapter 14

1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Asa his son reigned in his stead: in whose days the land was quiet ten year.

2 And Asa did that was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.

3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods and the high places, and break down the images, and cut down the groves,

4 And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do according to the law and the commandment.

5 And he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places, and the images: therefore the kingdom was quiet before him.

6 He built also strong cities in Judah, because the land was in rest, and he had no war in those years: for the Lord had given him rest.

7 Therefore he said to Judah, Let us build these cities and make walls about, and towers, gates, and bars, whiles the land is before us: because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side: so they built and prospered.

8 And Asa had an army of Judah that bear shields and spears, three hundred thousand, and of Benjamin that bear shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were valiant men.

9 And there came out against them Zerah of Ethiopia with an host of ten hundred thousand, and three hundred chariots, and came unto Mareshah.

10 Then Asa went out before him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah beside Mareshah.

11 And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help with many, or with no power: help us, O Lord our God: for we rest on thee, and in thy name are we come against this multitude: O Lord, thou art our God, let not man prevail against thee.

12 So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.

13 And Asa and the people that was with him, pursued them unto Gerar. And the Ethiopian's host was overthrown, so that there was no life in them: for they were destroyed before the Lord and before his host: and they carried away a mighty great spoil.

14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar: for the fear of the Lord came upon them, and they spoiled all the cities, for there was exceeding much spoil in them.

15 Yea, and they smote the tents of cattle, and carried away plenty of sheep and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.

II Chronicles Chapter 15

1 Then the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Obed.

2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, O Asa, and all Judah, and Benjamin, hear ye me. The Lord is with you, while ye be with him: and if ye seek him, he will be found of you, but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.

3 Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without priest to teach and without law.

4 But whosoever returned in his affliction to the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.

5 And in that time there was no peace to him, that did go out and go in: but great troubles were to all the inhabitants of the earth.

6 For nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God troubled them with all adversity.

7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall have a reward.

8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Obed the prophet, he was encouraged, and took away the abominations out of all the land of Judah, and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken of mount Ephraim, and he renewed the altar of the Lord, that was before the porch of the Lord.

9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for there fell many to him out of Israel, when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.

10 So they assembled to Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.

11 And they offered unto the Lord the same time of the spoil, which they had brought, even seven hundred bullocks, and seven thousand sheep.

12 And they made a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers, with all their heart, and with all their soul.

13 And whosoever will not seek the Lord God of Israel, shall be slain, whether he were small or great, man or woman.

14 And they swear unto the Lord with a loud voice, and with shouting and with trumpets, and with cornets.

15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn unto the Lord with all their heart, and sought him with a whole desire, and he was found of them. And the Lord gave them rest round about.

16 And king Asa deposed Michaiah [Maacah] his mother from her regency, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa break down her idol, and stamped it, and burned it at the brook Kidron.

17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: yet the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.

18 Also he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.

19 And there was no war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.

II Chronicles Chapter 16

1 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa came Baasha king of Israel up against Judah, and built Ramah to let none pass out or go into Asa king of Judah.

2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord, and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Aram [Syria] that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

3 There is a covenant between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold: come, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel that he may depart from me.

4 And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the armies which he had, against the cities of Israel. And they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.

5 And when Baasha heard it, he left building of Ramah, and let his work cease.

6 Then Asa the king took all Judah, and carried away the stones of Ramah and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha did build, and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.

7 And at that same time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast rested upon the king of Aram [Syria], and not rested in the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Aram [Syria] escaped out of thine hand.

8 The Ethiopians and the Lubims, were they not a great host with chariots and horsemen, exceeding many? Yet because thou didst rest upon the Lord, he delivered them into thine had.

9 For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth to show himself strong with them that are of perfect heart toward him: thou hast then done foolishly in this: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him into a prison: for he was displeased with him, because of this thing. And Asa oppressed certain of the people at the same time.

11 And behold, the acts of Asa first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

12 And Asa in the nine and thirtieth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, and his disease was extreme: yet he sought not the Lord in his disease, but to the physicians.

13 So Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.

14 And they buried him in one of his sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed, which they had filled with sweet odors and divers kinds of spices made by the art of the apothecary: and they burned him with an exceeding great fire.

1 And Jehosphat his son reigned in his stead, and prevailed against Israel.

2 And he put garrisons in all the strong cities of Judah, and set bands in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.

3 And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not Baalim,

4 But sought the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the trade of Israel.

5 Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought presents to Jehoshaphat, so that he had of riches and honor in abundance.

6 And he lift up his heart unto the ways of the Lord, and he took away moreover the high places and the groves out of Judah.

7 And in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, Ben-hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah, that they should teach in the cities of Judah,

8 And with them Levites, Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, Levites, and with the Elishama and Jehoram priests.

9 And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.

10 And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, and they fought not against Jehoshaphat.

11 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and tribute silver, and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.

12 So Jehoshaphat prospered and grew up on high: and he built in Judah palaces and cities of store.

13 And he had great works in the cities of Judah, and men of war, and valiant men in Jerusalem.

14 And these are the numbers of them after the house of their fathers, In Judah were captains of thousands, Adnah the captain, and with him of valiant men three hundred thousand.

15 And at his hand Jehohanan a captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.

16 And at his hand Amasiah the son of Zichri, which willingly offered himself unto the Lord, and with him two hundred thousand valiant men.

17 And of Benjamin, Eliada a valiant man, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.

18 And at his hand Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand armed to the war.

19 These waited on the king, besides those which the king put in the strong cities throughout all Judah.

II Chronicles Chapter 18

1 And Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, but he was joined in affinity with Ahab.

2 And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria: and Ahab slew sheep and oxen for him in great number, and for the people that he had with him, and enticed him to go up unto Ramoth Gilead.

3 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth Gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people, and we will join with thee in the war.

4 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Ask counsel, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord this day.

5 Therefore the king of Israel gathered of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I cease? And they said, Go up: for God shall deliver it into the king's hand.

6 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there hear never a prophet more of the Lord that we might inquire of him?

7 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may ask counsel of the Lord, but I hate him: for he doth not prophecy good unto me, but alway evil: it is Micaiah the son of Imla. Then Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

8 And the king of Israel called an eunuch, and said, Call quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.

9 And the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne clothed in their apparel: they sat even in the threshing floor at the entering in of the gate of Samaria: and all the prophets prophesied before them.

10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the Lord, With these shalt thou push the Aramites [Syrians] until thou hast consumed them.

11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth Gilead, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah, spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one accord: let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.

13 And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, whatsoever my God saith, that will I speak.

14 So he came to the king, and the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I leave off? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.

15 And the king said to him, How oft shall I charge thee, that thou tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?

16 Then he said, I saw all Israel scattered in the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.

17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee, that he would not prophecy good unto me, but evil?

18 Again he said, Therefore hear ye the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sit upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing at his right hand, and at his left.

19 And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead? And one spake and said thus, and another said that.

20 Then there came forth a spirit and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherein?

21 And he said, I will go out, and be a false spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade, and shalt also prevail: go forth and do so.

22 Now therefore behold, the Lord hath put a false spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the Lord hath determined evil against thee.

23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, By what way went the Spirit of the Lord from me, to speak with thee?

24 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see that day when thou shalt go from chamber to chamber to hide thee.

25 And the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son,

26 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this man in the prison house, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction until I return in peace.

27 And Micaiah said, If thou return in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hear, all ye people.

28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.

29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will change myself, and enter into the battle: but put thou on thine apparel. So the king of Israel changed himself, and they went into the battle.

30 And the king of Aram [Syria] had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight you not with small nor great, but against the king of Israel only.

31 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, It is the king of Israel: and they compassed about him to fight. But Jehoshaphat cried, and the Lord helped him and moved them to depart from him.

32 For when the captains of the chariots saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from him.

33 Then a certain man drew a bow mightily, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of his brigandine: Therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host: for I am hurt.

34 And the battle increased that day: and the king of Israel stood still in his chariot against the Aramites [Syrians] until even, and died at the time of the sun going down.

II Chronicles Chapter 19

1 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned safe to his house in Jerusalem.

2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Wouldest thou help the wicked, and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore for this thing the wrath of the Lord is upon thee.

3 Nevertheless good things are found in thee, because thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.

4 So Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem, and returned and went through the people from Beer-sheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them again unto the Lord God of their fathers.

5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the strong cities of Judah, city by city,

6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye execute not the judgments of man, but of the Lord, and he will be with you in the cause and judgment.

7 Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you: take heed, and do it: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, neither respect of persons, nor receiving of reward.

8 Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests and of the chief of the families of Israel, for the judgment and cause of the Lord: and they returned to Jerusalem.

9 And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart.

10 And in every cause that shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and precept, statutes and judgments, ye shall judge them, and admonish them that they trespass not against the Lord, that wrath come not upon you and upon your brethren. This shall ye do and trespass not.

11 And behold, Amariah the priest shall be the chief over you in all matters of the Lord, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, a ruler of the house of Judah, shall be for all the king's affairs, and the Levites shall be officers before you. Be of courage, and do it, and the Lord shall be with the good.

II Chronicles Chapter 20

1 After this also came the children of Moab and the children of Ammon, and with them of the Ammonites against Jehoshaphat to battle.

2 Then there came that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea, out of Aram [Syria]: and behold, they be in Hazazon Tamar, which is En-gedi.

3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

4 And Judah gathered themselves together to ask counsel of the Lord: they came even out of all the cities of Judah to inquire of the Lord,

5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the Lord before the new court,

6 And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? And reignest not thou on all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in thine hand is power and might, and none is able to withstand thee.

7 Didst not thou our God cast out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend forever?

8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,

9 If evil come upon us, as the sword of judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and in thy presence (for thy name is in this house) and will cry unto thee in our tribulation, and thou wilt hear and help.

10 And now behold, the children of Ammon and Moab, and mount Seir, by whom thou wouldest not let Israel go, when they came out of the land of Egypt: but they turned aside from them, and destroyed them not:

11 Behold, I say, they reward us, in coming to cast us out of thine inheritance, which thou hast caused us to inherit.

12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? For there is no strength in us to stand before this great multitude that cometh against us, neither do we know what to do: but our eyes are toward thee.

13 And all Judah stood before the Lord with their young ones, their wives, and their children.

14 And Jahaziel the son of Zechariah the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph was there, upon whom came the Spirit of the Lord, in the midst of the congregation.

15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou, king Jehoshaphat: thus saith the Lord unto you, Fear you not, neither be afraid for this great multitude: for the battle is not yours, but God's.

16 Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cleft of Ziz, and ye shall find them at the end of the brook before the wilderness of Jeruel.

17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: stand still, move not, and behold the salvation of the Lord towards you: O Judah, and Jerusalem, fear ye not, neither be afraid: tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.

18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the earth, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.

19 And the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high.

20 And when they arose early in the morning, they went forth to the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they departed, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear ye me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem: put your trust in the Lord your God, and ye shall be assured: believe his prophets, and ye shall prosper.

21 And when he had consulted with the people, and appointed singers unto the Lord, and them that should praise him that is in the beautiful sanctuary, in going forth before the men of arms, and saying, Praise ye the Lord, for his mercy lasteth forever,

22 And when they began to shout, and to praise, the Lord laid ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah, and they slew one another.

23 For the children of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of mount Seir, to slay and to destroy them and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

24 And when Judah came toward Mizpah in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude: and behold, the carcasses were fallen to the earth, and none escaped.

25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both of substance and also of bodies laden with precious jewels, which they took for themselves, till they could carry no more: they were three days in gathering of the spoil: for it was much.

26 And in the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah: for there they blessed the Lord: therefore they called the name of that place, The valley of Berachah unto this day.

27 Then every man of Judah and Jerusalem returned with Jehoshaphat their head, to go again to Jerusalem with joy: for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies.

28 And they came to Jerusalem with viols and with harps, and with trumpets, even unto the house of the Lord.

29 And the fear of God was upon all the kingdoms of the earth, when they had heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.

30 So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was quiet, and his God gave him rest on every side.

31 And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah, and was five and thirty year old, when he began to reign: and reigned five and twenty year in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

32 And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not there from, doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord.

33 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for the people had not yet prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.

34 Concerning the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.

35 Yet after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who was given to do evil.

36 And he joined with him, to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion Gaber.

37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works, and the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

1 Jehoshaphat then slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.

2 And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah. All these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.

3 And their father gave them great gifts of silver and of gold, and of precious things, with strong cities in Judah, but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram: for he was the eldest.

4 And Jehoram rose up upon the kingdom of his father, and made himself strong, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and also of the princes of Israel.

5 Jehoram was two and thirty year old, when he began to reign, and he reigned eight year in Jerusalem.

6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife, and he wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord.

7 Howbeit the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and because he had promised to give a light to him, and to his sons forever.

8 In his days Edom rebelled from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over them.

9 And Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote Edom, which had compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.

10 But Edom rebelled from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then did Libnah rebel at the same time from under his hand, because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers.

11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.

12 And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,

13 But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, as the house of Ahab went a whoring, and hast also slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were better than thou,

14 Behold, with a great plague will the Lord smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy substance,

15 And thou shalt be in great diseases in the disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out for the disease, day by day.

16 So the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and the Arabians that were beside the Ethiopians.

17 And they came up into Judah, and break into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives, so that there was not a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.

18 And after all this, the Lord smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

19 And in process of time, even after the end of two years, his guts fell out with his disease: so he died of sore diseases: and his people made no burning for him like the burning of his fathers.

20 When he began to reign, he was two and thirty year old, and reigned in Jerusalem eight year, and lived without being desired: yet they buried him in the city of David, but not among the sepulchres of the kings.

II Chronicles Chapter 22

1 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the army that came with the Arabians to the camp, had slain all the eldest: therefore Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.

2 Two and forty year old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.

3 He walked also in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother counseled him to do wickedly.

4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the Lord, like the house of Ahab: for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.

5 And he walked after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to fight against Hazael king of Aram [Syria] at Ramoth Gilead: and the Aramites [Syrians] smote Joram.

6 And he returned to be healed in Jezreel, because of the wounds where with they had wounded him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Aram [Syria]. Now Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was diseased.

7 And the destruction of Ahaziah came of God in that he went to Joram: for when he was come, he went forth with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.

8 Therefore when Jehu executed judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah that waited on Ahaziah, he slew them also.

9 And he sought Ahaziah, and they caught him where he was hid in Samaria, and brought him to Jehu, and slew him, and buried him, because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, which sought the Lord with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah was not able to retain the kingdom.

10 Therefore when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the king's seed of the house of Judah.

11 But Jehoshabeath the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons, that should be slain, and put him and his nurse in the bed chamber: 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 she slew him not.

12 And he was with them hid in the house of God six years, whiles Athaliah reigned over the land.

II Chronicles Chapter 23

1 And in the seventh year Jehoiada waxed bold, and took the captains of hundreds, to wit, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri in covenant with him.

2 And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief fathers of Israel: and they came to Jerusalem.

3 And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God: and he said unto them, Behold, the king's son must reign, as the Lord hath said of the sons of David.

4 This is it that ye shall do, The third part of you that come on the Sabbath of the priests, and the Levites, shall be porters of the doors.

5 And another third part toward the king's house, and another third part at the gate of the foundation, and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord.

6 But let none come into the house of the Lord, save the priests, and the Levites that minister: they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord.

7 And the Levites shall compass the king round about, and every man with his weapon in his hand, and he that entereth into the house, shall be slain, and be you with the king, when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.

8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that came on the Sabbath, with them that went out on the Sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest did not discharge the courses.

9 And Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and shields, and bucklers which had been king David's, and were in the house of God.

10 And he caused all the people to stand (every 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 round about the king.

11 Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king.

12 But when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the Lord.

13 And when she looked, behold, the king stood by his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew the trumpets, and the singers were with instruments of music, and they that could sing praise: then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, treason.

14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were governors of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges, and he that followeth her, let him die by the sword: for the priest had said, Slay her not in the house of the Lord.

15 So they laid hands on her: and when she was come to the entering of the horse gate by the king's house, they slew her there.

16 And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and all the people, and the king, that they would be the Lord's people.

17 And all the people went to the house of Baal, and destroyed it, and break his altars and his images, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

18 And Jehoiada appointed officers for the house of the Lord, under the hands of the priests and Levites, whom David had distributed for the house of the Lord, to offer burnt offerings unto the Lord, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and singing by the appointment of David.

19 And he set porters by the gates of the house of the Lord, that none that was unclean in anything should enter in.

20 And he took the captains of hundreds, and the noble men, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and he caused the king to come down out of the house of the Lord, and they went through the high gate of the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.

21 Then all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.

1 Jehoash was seven year old, when he began to reign, and he reigned forty year in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.

2 And Jehoash did uprightly in the sight of the Lord, all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

3 And Jehoiada took him two wives, and he begat sons and daughters.

4 And afterward it came into Jehoash's mind, to renew the house of the Lord.

5 And he assembled the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God, from year to year, and haste the thing: but the Levites hasted not.

6 Therefore the king called Jehoiada, the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and Jerusalem the tax of Moses the servant of the Lord, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of the testimony?

7 For wicked Athaliah, and her children break up the house of God: and all the things that were dedicated for the house of the Lord, did they bestow upon Baalim.

8 Therefore the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it at the gate of the house of the Lord without.

9 And they made proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring unto the Lord the tax of Moses the servant of God, laid upon Israel in the wilderness.

10 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had finished.

11 And when it was time, they brought the chest unto the king's officer by the hand of the Levites: and when they saw that there was much silver, then the king's scribe (and one appointed by the high priest) came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again: thus they did day by day, and gathered silver in abundance.

12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the labor and work in the house of the Lord, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the Lord: they gave it also to workers of iron and brass, to repair the house of the Lord.

13 So the workmen wrought, and the work amended through their hands: and they restored the house of God to his state, and strengthened it.

14 And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the silver before the king and Jehoiada, and he made thereof vessels for the house of the Lord, even vessels to minister, both mortars and incense cups, and vessels of gold, and of silver: and they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Jehoiada.

15 But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days and died. An hundred and thirty year old was he when he died.

16 And they buried him in the city of David with the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.

17 And after the death of Jehoiada, came the princes of Judah, and did reverence to the king, and the king hearkened unto them.

18 And they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem, because of this their trespass.

19 And God sent prophets among them, to bring them again unto the Lord: and they made protestation among them, but they would not hear.

20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord? Surely it shall not prosper: because ye have forsaken the Lord, he also hath forsaken you.

21 Then they conspired against him and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king, in the court of the house of the Lord.

22 Thus Jehoash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The Lord look upon it, and require it.

23 And when the year was out, the host of Aram [Syria] came up against him, and they came against Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus.

24 Though the army of Aram [Syria] came with a small company of men, yet the Lord delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers: and they gave sentence against Jehoash.

25 And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the children of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died, and they buried him in the city of David: but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.

26 And these are they that conspired against him, Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess.

27 But his sons, and the sum of the tax gathered by him, and the foundation of the house of God, behold, they are written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

II Chronicles Chapter 25

1 Amaziah was five and twenty year old when he began to reign, and he reigned nine and twenty year in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Jehoaddan, of Jerusalem.

2 And he did uprightly in the eyes of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart.

3 And when the kingdom was established unto him, he slew his servants, that had slain the king his father.

4 But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law, and in the book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.

5 And Amaziah assembled Judah, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty year old and above, and found among them three hundred thousand chosen men, to go forth to the war, and to handle spear and shield.

6 He hired also an hundred thousand valiant men out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.

7 But a man of God came to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee: for the Lord is not with Israel, neither with all the house of Ephraim.

8 If not, go thou on, do it, make thyself strong to the battle, but God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.

9 And Amaziah said to the man of God, What shall we do then for the hundred talents, which I have given to the host of Israel? Then the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give thee more than this.

10 So Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to return to their place: wherefore their wrath was kindled greatly against Judah, and they returned to their places with great anger.

11 Then Amaziah was encouraged, and led forth his people, and went to the salt valley, and smote of the children of Seir, ten thousand.

12 And other ten thousand did the children of Judah take alive, and carried them to the top of a rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, and they all burst to pieces.

13 But the men of the army, which Amaziah sent away, that they should not go with his people to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah from Samaria unto Beth-horon, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil.

14 Now after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and worshiped them, and burned incense unto them.

15 Wherefore the Lord was wroth with Amaziah, and sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought the gods of the people, which were not able to deliver their own people out of thine hand?

16 And as he talked with him, he said unto him, Have they made thee the king's counselor? Cease thou: why should they smite thee? And the prophet ceased, but said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not obeyed my counsel.

17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel, and sent to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.

18 But Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that is in Lebanon, sent to the cedar that is in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and the wild beast that was in Lebanon went and trod down the thistle.

19 Thou thinkest: lo, thou hast smitten Edom, and thine heart lifteth thee up to brag: abide now at home: why dost thou provoke to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, and Judah with thee?

20 But Amaziah would not hear: for it was of God, that he might deliver them into his hand, because they had sought the gods of Edom.

21 So Jehoash the king of Israel went up: and he, and Amaziah king of Judah saw one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which is in Judah.

22 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tents.

23 But Jehoash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz in Bethshemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and break down the wall of Jerusalem, from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

24 And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obed Edom, and in the treasures of the king's house, and the children that were in hostage, and returned to Samaria.

25 And Amaziah the son of Jehoash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, fifteen year.

26 Concerning the rest of the acts of Amaziah first and last, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?

27 Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from the Lord, they wrought treason against him in Jerusalem: and when he was fled to Lachish, they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.

28 And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.

II Chronicles Chapter 26

1 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, which was sixteen year old, and made him king in the stead of his father Amaziah.

2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah after that the king slept with his fathers.

3 Sixteen year old was Uzziah, when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty year in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Jechiliah of Jerusalem.

4 And he did uprightly in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah did.

5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah (which understood the visions of God) and when as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.

6 For he went forth and fought against the Philistines and break down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities in Ashdod, and among the Philistines.

7 And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal and Hammeunim.

8 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah, and his name spread to the entering in of Egypt: for he did most valiantly.

9 Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning, and made them strong.

10 And he built towers in the wilderness, and digged many cisterns: for he had much cattle both in the valleys and plains, plowmen, and dressers of vines in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.

11 Uzziah had also an host of fighting men that went out to war by bands, according to the count of their number under the hand of Jeiel the scribe, and Maaseiah the ruler, and under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.

12 The whole number of the chief of the families of the valiant men were two thousand and six hundred.

13 And under their hand was the army for war, three hundred and seven thousand, and five hundred that fought valiantly to help the king against the enemy.

14 And Uzziah prepared them throughout all the host, shields, and spears, and helmets, and brigandines, and bows, and stones to sling.

15 He made also very artificial engines in Jerusalem, to be upon the towers and upon the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones: and his name spread far abroad, because God did help him marvelously, till he was mighty.

16 But when he was strong, his heart was lift up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the Lord, valiant men.

18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It pertaineth not to thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated for to offer incense: go forth of the sanctuary: for thou hast transgressed, and thou shalt have none honor of the Lord God.

19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had incense in his hand to burn it: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord beside the incense altar.

20 And when Azariah the chief priest with all the priests looked upon him, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they caused him hastily to depart thence: and he was even compelled to go out, because the Lord had smitten him.

21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt as a leper in an house apart, because he was cut off from the house of the Lord: and Jotham his son ruled over the king's house, and judged the people of the land.

22 Concerning the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz write.

23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial, which pertained to the kings: for they said, He is a leper. And Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

II Chronicles Chapter 27

1 Jotham was five and twenty year old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen year in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.

2 And he did uprightly in the sight of the Lord according to all that his father Uzziah did, save that he entered not into the temple of the Lord, and the people did yet corrupt their ways.

3 He built the high gate of the house of the Lord, and he built very much on the wall of the castle.

4 Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built palaces and towers.

5 And he fought with the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley: this did the children of Ammon give him both in the second year and the third.

6 So Jotham became mighty because he directed his way before the Lord his God.

7 Concerning the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel, and Judah.

8 He was five and twenty year old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen year in Jerusalem.

9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

1 Ahaz was twenty year old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen year in Jerusalem, and did not uprightly in the sight of the Lord, like David his father.

2 But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made even molten images for Baalim.

3 Moreover he burned incense in the valley of Ben-hinnom, and burned his sons with fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

4 He sacrificed also and burned incense in the high places, and on hills, and under every green tree.

5 Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of the Aramites [Syrians], and they smote him, and took of his, many prisoners, and brought them to Damascus: and he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, which smote him with a great slaughter.

6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah sixscore thousand in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.

7 And Zichri a mighty man of Ephraim slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah the second after the king.

8 And the children of Israel took prisoners of their brethren, two hundred thousand of women, sons and daughters, and carried away much spoil of them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.

9 But there was a prophet of the Lord's, (whose name was Oded) and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the Lord God of your fathers is wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage, that reacheth up to heaven.

10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem, as servants and handmaids unto you: but are not you such, that sins are with you before the Lord your God?

11 Now therefore hear me, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken prisoners of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the Lord is toward you.

12 Wherefore certain of the chief of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,

13 And said unto them, Bring not in the captives hither: for this shall be a sin upon us against the Lord: ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass, though our trespass be great, and the fierce wrath of God is against Israel.

14 So the army left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.

15 And the men that were named by name, rose up and took the prisoners, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them meat, and gave them drink, and anointed them, and carried all that were feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho the city of Palm trees to their brethren: so they returned to Samaria.

16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Asshur [Assyria], to help him.

17 (For the Edomites came moreover, and slew of Judah, and carried away captives.

18 The Philistines also invaded the cities in the low country, and toward the south of Judah, and took Bethshemesh, and Aijalon, and Gederoth and Shocho, with the villages thereof, and Timnah, with her villages, and Gimzo, with her villages, and they dwelt there.

19 For the Lord had humbled Judah, because of Ahaz king of Israel: for he had brought vengeance upon Judah, and had grievously transgressed against the Lord)

20 And Tilgath Pilneser [Pul] king of Asshur [Assyria] came unto him who troubled him and did not strengthen him.

21 For Ahaz took a portion out of the house of the Lord and out of the king's house and of the princes, and gave unto the king of Asshur [Assyria]: yet it helped him not.

22 And in the time of his tribulation did he yet trespass more against the Lord, (this is king Ahaz)

23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which plagued him, and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Aram [Syria] helped them, I will sacrifice unto them, and they will help me: yet they were his ruin, and of all Israel.

24 And Ahaz gathered the vessels of the house of God, and break the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.

25 And in every city of Judah he made high places, to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers.

26 Concerning the rest of his acts, and all his ways first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah, and Israel.

27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of Jerusalem, but brought him not unto the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

II Chronicles Chapter 29

1 Hezekiah began to reign, when he was five and twenty year old, and reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah.

2 And he did uprightly in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.

3 He opened the doors of the house of the Lord in the first year, and in the first month of his reign, and repaired them.

4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them into the east street,

5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites: sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the sanctuary.

6 For our fathers have trespassed, and done evil in the eyes of the Lord our God, and have forsaken him, and turned away their faces from the tabernacle of the Lord, and turned their backs.

7 They have also shut the doors of the porch, and quenched the lamps, and have neither burned incense, nor offered burnt offerings in the sanctuary unto the God of Israel.

8 Wherefore the wrath of the Lord hath been on Judah and Jerusalem: and he hath made them a scattering, a desolation, and an hissing, as ye see with your eyes.

9 For lo, our fathers are fallen by the sword, and our sons, and our daughters, and our wives are in captivity for the same cause.

10 Now I purpose to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that he may turn away his fierce wrath from us.

11 Now my sons, be not deceived: for the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and to be his ministers, and to burn incense.

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

13 And of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri, and Jeiel [Jeuel]: and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah, and Mattaniah:

14 And of the sons of Heman, Jeuel, and Shimei: and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.

15 And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves and came according to the commandment of the king, and by the words of the Lord, for to cleanse the house of the Lord.

16 And the priests went into the inner parts of the house of the Lord, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord, into the court of the house of the Lord: and the Levites took it, to carry it out unto the brook Kidron.

17 They began the first day of the first month to sanctify it, and the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the Lord: so they sanctified the house of the Lord in eight days, and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.

18 Then they went into Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the Lord and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the showbread table, with all the vessels thereof:

19 And all the vessels which king Ahaz had cast aside when he reigned, and transgressed, have we prepared and sanctified: and behold, they are before the altar of the Lord.

20 And Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the princes of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord.

21 And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the Lord.

22 So they slew the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it upon the altar: they slew also the rams and sprinkled the blood upon the altar, and they slew the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar.

23 Then they brought the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation, and they laid their hands upon them.

24 And the priests slew them, and with the blood of them they cleansed the altar to reconcile all Israel: for the king had commanded for all Israel the burnt offering and the sin offering.

25 He appointed also the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with viols, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for the commandment was by the hand of the Lord, and by the hand of his prophets.

26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar: and when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began with the trumpets, and the instruments of David king of Israel.

28 And all the congregation worshiped, singing a song, and they blew the trumpets: all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.

29 And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him, bowed themselves, and worshiped.

30 Then Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. so they praised with joy, and they bowed themselves, and worshiped.

31 And Hezekiah spake, and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves to the Lord: come near and bring the sacrifices and offerings of praise into the house of the Lord. And the congregation brought sacrifices; and offerings of praises, and every man that was willing in heart, offered burnt offerings.

32 And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was seventy bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord:

33 And for sanctification six hundred bullocks, and three thousand sheep.

34 But the priests were too few, and were not able to flay all the burnt offerings: therefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till they had ended the work, and until other priests were sanctified: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves, than the priests.

35 And also the burnt offerings were many with the fat of the peace offerings and the drink offerings for the burnt offering. So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order.

36 Then Hezekiah rejoiced and all the people, that God had made the people so ready: for the thing was done suddenly.

II Chronicles Chapter 30

1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel, and Judah, and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover unto the Lord God of Israel.

2 And the king and his princes and all the congregation had taken counsel in Jerusalem to keep the Passover in the second month.

3 For they could not keep it at this time, because there were not priests enough sanctified, neither was the people gathered to Jerusalem.

4 And the thing pleased the king, and all the congregation.

5 And they decreed to make proclamation throughout all Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover unto the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a great time, as it was written.

6 So the posts went with letters by the commission of the king, and his princes, throughout all Israel and Judah, and with the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant that are escaped of you, out of the hands of the kings of Asshur [Assyria].

7 And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the Lord God of their fathers: and therefore he made them desolate, as ye see.

8 Be not ye now stiff necked like your fathers, but give the hand to the Lord and come into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified forever, and serve the Lord your God, and the fierceness of his wrath shall turn away from you.

9 For if ye return unto the Lord, your brethren and your children shall find mercy before them that led them captives, and they shall return unto this land: for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye convert unto him.

10 So the posts went from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

11 Nevertheless divers of Asher, and Manasseh, and of Zebulun submitted themselves, and came to Jerusalem.

12 And the hand of God was in Judah, so that he gave them one heart to do the commandment of the king, and of the rulers, according to the word of the Lord.

13 And there assembled to Jerusalem much people, to keep the feast of the unleavened bread in the second month, a very great assembly.

14 And they arose, and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem: and all those for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron.

15 Afterward they slew the Passover the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought the burnt offerings into the house of the Lord.

16 And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: and the priests sprinkled the blood, received of the hands of the Levites.

17 Because there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified, therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the Passover for all that were not clean, to sanctify it to the Lord.

18 For a multitude of the people, even a multitude of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not cleansed themselves, yet did eat the Passover, but not as it was written: wherefore Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord be merciful toward him,

19 That prepareth his whole heart to seek the Lord God, the God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed, according to the purification of the sanctuary.

20 And the Lord heard Hezekiah, and healed the people.

21 And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem, kept the feast of the unleavened bread seven days with great joy, and the Levites, and the priests praised the Lord, day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the Lord.

22 And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that had good knowledge to sing unto the Lord: and they did eat in that feast seven days, and offered peace offerings, and praised the Lord God of their fathers.

23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep it other seven days. So they kept it seven days with joy.

24 For Hezekiah king of Judah had given to the congregation a thousand bullocks, and seven thousand sheep. And the princes had given to the congregation a thousand bullocks, and ten thousand sheep: and many priests were sanctified.

25 And all the congregation of Judah rejoiced with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah.

26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like thing in Jerusalem.

27 Then the priests and the Levites arose, and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up unto heaven, to his holy habitation.

II Chronicles Chapter 31

1 And when all these things were finished, all Israel that were found in the cities of Judah, went out and break the images, and cut down the groves, and break down the high places, and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had made an end: afterward all the children of Israel returned every man to his possession, into their own cities.

2 And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and Levites by their turns, every man according to his office, both priests and Levites, for the burnt offering and peace offerings, to minister and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the Lord.

3 (And the king's portion was of his own substance for the burnt offerings, even for the burnt offerings of the morning and of the evening, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the solemn feasts, as it is written in the law of the Lord)

4 He commanded also the people that dwelt in Jerusalem, to give a part to the priests, and Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord.

5 And when the commandment was spread, the children of Israel brought abundance of first fruits, of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field, and the tithes of all things brought they abundantly.

6 And the children of Israel and Judah that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought the tithes of bullocks and sheep, and the holy tithes which were consecrated unto the Lord their God, and laid them on many heaps.

7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came, and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and his people Israel.

9 And Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have eaten and have been satisfied, and there is left in abundance: for the Lord hath blessed his people, and this abundance that is left.

11 And Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the Lord: and they prepared them,

12 And carried in the first fruits, and the tithes, and the dedicated things faithfully: and over them was Conaniah the Levite, the chief, and Shimei his brother the second.

13 And Jehiel, and Azariah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers by the appointment of Conaniah, and Shimei his brother, and by the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and of Azariah the chief of the house of God.

14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite porter toward the east, was over the things that were willingly offered unto God, to distribute the oblations of the Lord, and the holy things that were consecrated.

15 And at his hand were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shechaniah, in the cities of the priests, to distribute with fidelity to their brethren by courses, both to the great and small,

16 Their daily portion: beside their generation being males from three year old and above, even to all that entered into the house of the Lord to their office in their charge, according to their courses:

17 Both to the generation of the priests after the house of their fathers, and to the Levites from twenty year old and above, according to their charge in their courses:

18 And to the generation of all their children, their wives, and their sons and their daughters throughout all the congregation: for by their fidelity are they partakers of the holy things.

19 Also to the sons of Aaron, the priests, which were in the fields and suburbs of their cities, in every city the men that were appointed by names, should give portions to all the males of the priests, and to all the generation of the Levites.

20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and did well, and uprightly, and truly before the Lord his God.

21 And in all the works that he began for the service of the house of God, both in the law and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

II Chronicles Chapter 32

1 After these things faithfully described, Sennacherib king of Asshur [Assyria] came and entered into Judah, and besieged the strong cities, and thought to win them for himself.

2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that his purpose was to fight against Jerusalem,

3 Then he took counsel with his princes and his nobles, to stop the water of the fountains without the city: and they did help him.

4 So many of the people assembled themselves, and stopped all the fountains, and the river that ran through the midst of the country, saying, Why should the kings of Asshur [Assyria] come, and find much water?

5 And he took courage, and built all the broken wall, and made up the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made many darts and shields.

6 And he set captains of war over the people, and assembled them to him in the broad place of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably unto them, saying,

7 Be strong and courageous: fear not, neither be afraid for the king of Asshur [Assyria], neither for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us, than is with him.

8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God for to help us, and to fight our battles. Then the people were confirmed by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

9 After this, did Sennacherib king of Asshur [Assyria] send his servants to Jerusalem (while he was against Lachish, and all his dominion with him) unto Hezekiah king of Judah and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,

10 Thus saith Sennacherib the king of Asshur [Assyria], Wherein do ye trust, that ye will remain in Jerusalem, during the siege?

11 Doth not Hezekiah entice you to give over yourselves unto death by famine and by thirst, saying, The Lord our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Asshur [Assyria]?

12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?

13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other countries? Were the gods of the nations of other lands able to deliver their land out of mine hand?

14 Who is he of all the gods of those nations (that my fathers have destroyed) that could deliver his people out of mine hand? That your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?

15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor seduce you after this sort, neither believe ye him: for none of all the gods of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your gods deliver you out of mine hand?

16 And his servants spake yet more against the Lord God, and against his servant Hezekiah.

17 He wrote also letters, blaspheming the Lord God of Israel and speaking against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other countries could not deliver their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.

18 Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to fear them and to astonish them, that they might take the city.

19 Thus they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, even the works of man's hands,

20 But Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz prayed against this and cried to heaven.

21 And the Lord sent an angel which destroyed all the valiant men, and the princes and captains of the host of the king of Asshur [Assyria]: so he returned with shame to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels, slew him there with the sword.

22 So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Asshur [Assyria], and from the hand of all other, and maintained them on every side.

23 And many brought offerings unto the Lord to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.

24 In those days Hezekiah was sick unto the death, and prayed unto the Lord, who spake unto him, and gave him a sign.

25 But Hezekiah did not render according to the reward bestowed upon him: for his heart was lift up, and wrath came upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself (after that his heart was lifted up) he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 Hezekiah also had exceeding much riches and honor, and he gat him treasures of silver, and of gold, and of precious stones, and of sweet odors, and of shields, and of all pleasant vessels:

28 And of storehouses for the increase of wheat and wine and oil, and stalls for all beasts, and rows for the stables.

29 And he made him cities, and had possession of sheep and oxen in abundance: for God had given him substance exceeding much.

30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper water springs of Gihon, and led them straight underneath toward the city of David westward. So Hezekiah prospered in all his works.

31 But because of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, which sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him to try him, and to know all that was in his heart.

32 Concerning the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

33 So Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the highest sepulchre of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

II Chronicles Chapter 33

1 Manasseh was twelve year old, when he began to reign, and he reigned five and fifty year in Jerusalem:

2 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, like the abominations of the heathen, who the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

3 For he went back and built the high places, which Hezekiah his father had broken down: and he set up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshiped all the host of the heaven, and served them.

4 Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be forever.

5 And he built altars for all the host of the heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.

6 And he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the valley of Ben-hinnom: he gave himself to witchcraft and to charming and to sorcery, and he used them that had familiar spirits, and soothsayers: he did very much evil in the sight of the Lord to anger him.

7 He put also the carved image, which he had made, in the house of God: whereof God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name forever,

8 Neither will I make the foot of Israel to remove anymore out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers, so that they take heed, and do all that I have commanded them, according to the law and statutes and judgments by the hand of Moses.

9 So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.

10 And the Lord spake to Manasseh and to his people, but they would not regard.

11 Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Asshur [Assyria], which took Manasseh and put him in fetters, and bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon.

12 And when he was in tribulation, he prayed to the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,

13 And prayed unto him: and God was entreated of him, and heard his prayer, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom: then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.

14 Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the Westside of Gihon in the valley, even at the entry of the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it very high, and put captains of war in all the strong cities of Judah.

15 And he took away the strange gods and the image out of the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.

16 Also he prepared the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings, and of thanks, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.

17 Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, but unto the Lord their God.

18 Concerning the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers, that spake to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.

19 And his prayer and how God was entreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set groves and images (before he was humbled) behold, they are written in the book of the seers.

20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

21 Amon was two and twenty year old, when he began to reign, and reigned two year in Jerusalem.

22 But he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed to all the images, which Manasseh his father had made, and served them,

23 And he humbled not himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself: but this Amon trespassed more and more.

24 And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.

25 But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon: and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

II Chronicles Chapter 34

1 Josiah was eight year old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty year.

2 And he did uprightly in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and bowed neither to the right hand nor to the left.

3 And in the eighth year of his reign (when he was yet a child) he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah, and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and molten images:

4 And they break down in his sight the altars of Baalim, and he caused to cut down the images that were on high upon them: he break also the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, and stamped them to powder, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.

5 Also he burned the bones of the priests upon their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem.

6 And in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mauls they break all round about.

7 And when he had destroyed the altars and the groves, and had broken and stamped to powder the images, and had cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.

8 Then in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God.

9 And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the door, had gathered at the hand of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and of all the residue of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

10 And they put it in the hands of them that should do the work and had the oversight in the house of the Lord: and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the Lord, to repair and amend the house.

11 Even to the workmen and to the builders gave they it, to buy hewed stone and timber for couples and for beams of the houses, which the kings of Judah had destroyed.

12 And the men did the work faithfully, and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the children of Merari, and Zechariah, and Meshullam, of the children of the Kohathites to set it forward: and of the Levites all that could skill of instruments of music.

13 And they were over the bearers of burdens, and them that set forward all the workmen in every work: and of the Levites were scribes, and officers and porters.

14 And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of the Lord given by the hand of Moses.

15 Therefore Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the chancellor, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord: and Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.

16 And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word again, saying, All that is committed to the hand of thy servants, that do they.

17 For they have gathered the money that was found in the house of the Lord, and have delivered it into the hands of the overseers, and to the hands of the workmen.

18 Also Shaphan the chancellor declared to the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book, and Shaphan read it before the king.

19 And when the king had heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.

20 And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the chancellor, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying,

21 Go and inquire of the Lord for me, and for the rest in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is fallen upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in this book.

22 Then Hilkiah and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess the wife of Shallum, the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah keeper of the wardrobe (and she dwelt in Jerusalem within the college) and they communed hereof with her.

23 And she answered them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me,

24 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses, that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:

25 Because they have forsaken me, and burned incense unto other gods, to anger me with all the works of their hands, therefore shall my wrath fall upon this place, and shall not be quenched.

26 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The words which thou hast heard, shall come to pass.

27 But because thine heart did melt, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me and tearest thy clothes, and wept before me, I have also heard it, saith the Lord.

28 Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be put in thy grave in peace, and thine eyes shall not see all the evil, which I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. Thus they brought the king word again.

29 Then the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

30 And the king went up into the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests and the Levites, and all the people from the greatest to the smallest, and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the Lord.

31 And the king stood by his pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, and that he would accomplish the words of the covenant written in the same book.

32 And he caused all that were found in Jerusalem, and Benjamin to stand to it: and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, even the God of their fathers.

33 So Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and compelled all that were found in Israel, to serve the Lord their God: so all his days they turned not back from the Lord God of their fathers.

II Chronicles Chapter 35

1 Moreover Josiah kept a Passover unto the Lord in Jerusalem, and they slew the Passover in the fourteenth day of the first month.

2 And he appointed the priests to their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the Lord,

3 And he said unto the Levites that taught all Israel and were sanctified unto the Lord, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build: it shall be no more a burden upon your shoulders: serve now the Lord your God and his people Israel,

4 And prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers according to your courses, as David the king of Israel hath written, and according to the writing of Solomon his son,

5 And stand in the sanctuary according to the division of the families of your brethren the children of the people, and after the division of the family of the Levites:

6 So kill the Passover and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren that they may do according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

7 Josiah also gave to the people sheep, lambs and kids, all for the Passover, even to all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king's substance.

8 And his princes offered willingly unto the people, to the priests and to the Levites: Hilkiah, and Zechariah, and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave unto the priests for the Passover, even two thousand and six hundred sheep, and three hundred bullocks.

9 Conaniah also and Shemaiah and Nethanel his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel, and Jozabad, chief of the Levites gave unto the Levites for the Passover, five thousand sheep, and five hundred bullocks.

10 Thus the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their places, also the Levites in their orders, according to the king's commandment:

11 And they slew the Passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood with their hands, and the Levites flayed them.

12 And they took away from the burnt offering to give it according to the divisions of the families of the children of the people, to offer unto the Lord, as it is written in the book of Moses, and so of the bullocks.

13 And they roasted the Passover with fire, according to the custom, but the sanctified things they sod in pots, pans, and cauldrons, and distributed them quickly to all the people.

14 Afterward also they prepared for themselves and for the priests: for the priests the sons of Aaron were occupied in offering of burnt offerings, and the fat until night: therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron.

15 And the singers the sons of Asaph stood in their standing according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer: and the porters at every gate, who might not depart from their service: therefore their brethren the Levites prepared for them.

16 So all the service of the Lord was prepared the same day, to keep the Passover, and to offer burnt offerings upon the altar of the Lord, according to the commandment of king Josiah.

17 And the children of Israel that were present, kept the Passover the same time, and the feast of the unleavened bread seven days.

18 And there was no Passover kept like that, in Israel, from the days of Samuel the prophet: neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a Passover as Josiah kept, and the priests and the Levites, and all Judah, and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

19 This Passover was kept in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah.

20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Perath, and Josiah went out against him.

21 But he sent messengers to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house of mine enemy, and God commanded me to make haste: leave off to come against God, which is with me, lest he destroy thee.

22 But Josiah would not turn his face from him, but changed his apparel to fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho, which were of the mouth of God, but came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.

23 And the shooters shot at king Josiah: then the king said to his servants, Carry me away, for I am very sick.

24 So his servants took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot which he had, and when they had brought him to Jerusalem, he died, and was buried in the sepulchres of his fathers: and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

25 And Jeremiah lamented Josiah, and all singing men and singing women mourned for Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made the same for an ordinance unto Israel: and behold, they be written in the lamentations.

26 Concerning the rest of the acts of Josiah and his goodness, doing as it was written in the law of the Lord,

27 And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

II Chronicles Chapter 36

1 Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem.

2 Jehoahaz was three and twenty year old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.

3 And the king of Egypt took him away at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.

4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim: and Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.

5 Jehoiakim was five and twenty year old, when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven year in Jerusalem, and did evil in the sight of the Lord his God.

6 Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him with chains to carry him to Babylon.

7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the Lord to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.

8 Concerning the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found upon him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

9 Jehoiachin was eight year old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem, and did evil in the sight of the Lord.

10 And when the year was out, king Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon with the precious vessels of the house of the Lord, and he made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.

11 Zedekiah was one and twenty year old, when he began to reign, and reigned eleven year in Jerusalem.

12 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet at the commandment of the Lord,

13 But he rebelled moreover against Nebuchadnezzar, which had caused him to swear by God: and he hardened his neck and made his heart obstinate that he might not return to the Lord God of Israel.

14 All the chief of the priests also and of the people trespassed wonderfully, according to all the abominations of the heathen, and polluted the house of the Lord which he had sanctified in Jerusalem.

15 Therefore the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising early and sending: for he had compassion on his people, and on his habitation.

16 But they mocked the messengers of God and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, and till there was no remedy.

17 For he brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and spared neither young man, nor virgin, ancient, nor aged. God gave all into his hand,

18 And all the vessels of the house of God great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes: all these carried he to Babylon.

19 And they burned the house of God, and break down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all the palaces thereof with fire, and all the precious vessels thereof, to destroy all.

20 And they that were left by the sword, carried he away to Babylon, and they were servants to him and to his sons, until the kingdom of the Persians had rule,

21 To fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had her fill of her Sabbaths: for all the days that she lay desolate, she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

22 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia (when the word of the Lord, spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah, was finished) the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, and he made a proclamation through all his kingdom, and also by writing, saying,

23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me, and hath commanded me to build him an house in Jerusalem, that is in Judah. Who is among you of all his people, with whom the Lord his God is? Let him go up.