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