Worship of God restored. II. CHRONICLES. The good reign of Joash. noise of the people running and praising and the Levites, and said to them, Go out the king, she caine to the people into the unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all house of the LORD: Israel money to repair the house of your 13 And she looked, and behold, the king God from year to year, and see that ye stood at his pillar at the entering in, and hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites the princes and the trumpets by the king: hastened it not.

and all the people of the land rejoiced, 6 And the king called for Jehoiada the and sounded with trumpets; also the sing-chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou ers with instruments of music, and such not required of the Levites to bring in out as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collecrent her clothes, and said, Treason, treason! tion, according to the commandment of 14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the the captains of hundreds that were set over congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle the host, and said unto them, Have her of witness?

forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth 7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked her, let him be slain with the sword. For woman, had broken up the house of God; the priest said, Slay her not in the house and also all the dedicated things of the of the LORD. house of the LORD did they bestow upon

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

16 T And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD's people.

8 And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD.

9 And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness.

17Then all the people went to the house 10 And all the princes and all the peoof Baal, and brake it down, and brake his ple rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into altars and his images in pieces, and slew the chest, until they had made an end. Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 11 Now it came to pass, that at what 18 Also Jehoiada appointed the offices time the chest was brought unto the king's of the house of the LORD by the hand of office by the hand of the Levites, and the priests the Levites, whom David had when they saw that there was much money, distributed in the house of the LORD, to the king's scribe and the high priest's offer the burnt-offerings of the LORD, as it officer came and emptied the chest, and is written in the law of Moses, with re- took it, and carried it to his place again. joicing and with singing, as it was ordain-Thus they did day by day, and gathered ed by David. money in abundance.

19 And he set the porters at the gates 12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it of the house of the LORD, that none which to such as did the work of the service of was unclean in any thing should enter in. the house of the LORD, and hired masons 20 And he took the captains of hun- and carpenters to repair the house of the dreds, and the nobles, and the governors LORD, and also such as wrought iron and of the people, and all the people of the brass to mend the house of the LORD. land, and brought down the king from the 13 So the workmen wrought, and the house of the LORD: and they came through work was perfected by them, and they set the high gate into the king's house, and set the house of God in his state, and strengththe king upon the throne of the kingdom. ened it. 21 And all the people of the land re- 14 And when they had finished it, they joiced: and the city was quiet, after that brought the rest of the money before the they had slain Athaliah with the sword. king and Jehoiada, whereof were made CHAP. XXIV.

JOASH

OASH was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.

2 And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

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

vessels for the house of the LORD, even vessels to minister, and to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt-offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.

15 But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; a hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.

16 And they buried him in the city of 4 T And it came to pass after this, that David among the kings, because he had Joash was minded to repair the house of done good in Israel, both toward God, the LORD. and toward his house.

5 And he gathered together the priests

17 Now after the death of Jehoiada

Joash is slain by his servants.

CHAP. XXV.

The Edomites are overcome

came the princes. of Judah, and made 2 And he did that which was right in the obeisance to the king. Then the king sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect hearkened unto them. heart.

18 And they left the house of the LORD 3 Now it came to pass, when the God of their fathers, and served groves and kingdom was established to him, that he idols and wrath came upon Judah and slew his servants that had killed the king Jerusalem for this their trespass. his father.

19 Yet he sent prophets to them, to 4 But he slew not their children, but bring them again unto the LORD; and they did as it is written in the law in the book testified against them: but they would not of Moses, where the LORD commanded, give ear. saying, The fathers shall not die for the 20 And the Spirit of God came upon Ze- children, neither shall the children die for chariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, the fathers, but every man shall die for his which stood above the people, and said own sin.

you.

unto them, Thus saith God, Why trans- 5 ¶ Moreover, Amaziah gathered Judah gress ye the commandments of the LORD, together, and made them captains over that ye cannot prosper? because ye have thousands, and captains over hundreds, acforsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken cording to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and 21 And they conspired against him, and he numbered them from twenty years old stoned him with stones at the command-and above, and found them three hundred ment of the king, in the court of the house thousand choice men, able to go forth to of the LORD. war, that could handle spear and shield. 22 Thus Joash the king remembered 6 He hired also a hundred thousand not the kindness which Jehoiada his father mighty men of valour out of Israel for a had done to him, but slew his son. And hundred talents of silver. when he died, he said, The LORD look 7 But there came a man of God to him, upon it, and require it. saying, O king, let not the army of Israel 23 And it came to pass at the end of go with thee; for the LORD is not with Isthe year, that the host of Syria came up rael, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim. against him: and they came to Judah and 8 But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes for the battle: God shall make thee fall beof the people from among the people, and fore the enemy: for God hath power to sent all the spoil of them unto the king of help, and to cast down. 9 And Amaziah said to the man of God, 24 For the army of the Syrians came But what shall we do for the hundred talents with a small company of men, and the which I have given to the army of Israel? LORD delivered a very great host into their And the man of God answered, The LORD hand, because they had forsaken the LORD is able to give thee much more than this. God of their fathers. So they executed 10 Then Amaziah separated them, to judgment against Joash. wit, the army that was come to him out of 25 And when they were departed from Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore him, (for they left him in great diseases,) their anger was greatly kindled against Juhis own servants conspired against him for dah, and they returned home in great the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, anger.

Damascus.

and slew him on his bed, and he died: 11 T And Amaziah strengthened himand they buried him in the city of David, self, and led forth his people, and went to but they buried him not in the sepulchres the valley of Salt, and smote of the chilof the kings. dren of Seir ten thousand. 26 And these are they that conspired 12 And other ten thousand left alive did against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath the children of Judah carry away captive, an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of and brought them unto the top of the rock, Shimrith a Moabitess. and cast them down from the top of the

27 ¶ Now concerning his sons, and the rock, that they all were broken in pieces. greatness of the burdens laid upon him, 13 But the soldiers of the army which and the repairing of the house of God, be- Amaziah sent back, that they should not hold, they are written in the story of the go with him to battle, fell upon the cities book of the kings. And Amaziah his son of Judah, from Samaria even unto Bethreigned in his stead. horon, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil.

CHAP. XXV.

AMAZIAH was twenty and five years

14 Now it came to pass, after that old when he began to reign, and he Amaziah was come from the slaughter of reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusa- the Edomites, that he brought the gods of lem. And his mother's name was Jehoad- the children of Seir, and set them up to be dan of Jerusalem. This gods, and bowed down himself before

Amaziah provokes Joash. II. CHRONICLES. He is slain by a conspiracy. them, and burned incense unto them. rusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they 15 Wherefore the anger of the LORD was sent to Lachish after him, and slew him kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto there. him a prophet, which said unto him, Why

28 And they brought him upon horses, hast thou sought after the gods of the peo- and buried him with his fathers in the city ple, which could not deliver their own of Judah. people out of thy hand?

TH

CHAP. XXVI. 16 And it came to pass, as he talked HEN all the people of Judah took Uzwith him, that the king said unto him, Art ziah, who was sixteen years old, and thou made of the king's council? forbear; made him king in the room of his father why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the Amaziah. prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face. 18 And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle..

19 Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thy heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?

20 But Amaziak 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.

2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers. 3 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.

5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and, as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.

6 And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wail of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.

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

8 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt: for he strengthened himself exceedingly,

21 So Joash the king of Israel went up; 9 Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jeand they saw one another in the face, both rusalem at the corner-gate, and at the valhe and Amaziah king of Judah, at Beth-ley-gate, and at the turning of the wall, and shemesh, which belongeth to Judah. fortified them.

tent.

22 And Judah was put to the worse be- 10 Also he built towers in the desert, fore Israel, and they fled every man to his and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the 23 And Joash the king of Israel took plains; husbandmen also, and vine-dressAmaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, ers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and he loved husbandry.

brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down 11 Moreover, Uzziah had a host of the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, Ephraim to the corner-gate, four hundred according to the number of their account cubits. by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.

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

12 The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two thousand and six hundred.

25 ¶ And Amaziah, the son of Joash 13 And under their hand was an army, king of Judah, lived after the death of Jo- three hundred thousand and seven thousand ash, son of Jeboahaz king of Israel, fifteen and five hundred, that made war with years. mighty power, to help the king against the 26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, enemy. first and last, behold, are they not written! 14 And Uzziah prepared for them in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? throughout all the host, shields, and spears, 27 Now after the time that Amaziah and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, did turn away from following the LORD and slings to cast stones.

they made a conspiracy against him in Je- 15 And he made in Jerusalem engines,

Uzziah's reign and death. CHAP. XXVII, XXVIII.

Reign of Jotham. invented by cunning men, to be on the Ammonites, and prevailed against them towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot ar- And the children of Ammon gave him the rows and great stones withal. And his same year a hundred talents of silver, name spread far abroad; for he was mar- and ten thousand measures of wheat, and vellously helped, till he was strong. ten thousand of barley. So much did the 16 But when he was strong, his heart children of Ammon pay unto him, both was lifted up to his destruction: for he the second year, and the third. transgressed against the LORD his God, 6 So Jotham became mighty, because and went into the temple of the LORD to he prepared his ways before the LORD his burn incense upon the altar of incense.

17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men:

God.

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

18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto 8 He was five and twenty years old thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the when he began to reign, and reigned sixLORD, but to the priests, the sons of teen years in Jerusalem.

Aaron, that are consecrated to burn in- 9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, cense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou and they buried him in the city of David: hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead. honour from the LORD God.

CHAP. XXVIII.

19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense and AHAZ was twenty years old when he while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead be fore the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense-altar.

20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests looked upon him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.

began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father:

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

3 Moreover, he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

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

21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, 5 Wherefore the LORD his God deliverjudging the people of the land. ed him into the hand of the king of Syria; 22 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, and they smote him, and carried away a first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the great multitude of them captives, and son of Amoz, write. brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.

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

CHAP. XXVII.

6 T For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judab a hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.

JOTHAM was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's 7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, name also was Jerushah, the daughter of slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam Zadok. the governor of the house, and Elkanah 2 And he did that which was right in that was next to the king. the sight of the LORD, according to all 8 And the children of Israel carried that his father Uzziah did: howbeit, he away captive of their brethren two hunentered not into the temple of the LORD. dred thousand, women, sons, and daughAnd the people did yet corruptly. ters, and took also away much spoil from 3 He built the high gate of the house of them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he 9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, built much. whose name was Oded: and he went out 4 Moreover, he built cities in the moun- before the host that came to Samaria, and tains of Judah, and in the forests he built said unto them, Behold, because the LORD castles and towers. God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, 5¶ He fought also with the king of the he hath delivered them into your hand,

Ahaz's great impiety.

II. CHRONICLES.

Hezekiah's good reign.

and ye have slain them in a rage that them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, reacheth up unto heaven. that they may help me. But they were 10 And now ye purpose to keep under the ruin of him, and of all Israel. the children of Judah and Jerusalem for 24 And Ahaz gathered together the bond-men and bond-women unto you: vessels of the house of God, and cut in but are there not with you, even with you, pieces the vessels of the house of God, and sins against the LORD your God? shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of

11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken Jerusalem. captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.

25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto 12 Then certain of the heads of the other gods, and provoked to anger the children of Ephra, Azariah the son of LORD God of his fathers.

Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshille- 26 Now the rest of his acts and of all moth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shellum, his ways, first and last, behold, they are and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up written in the book of the kings of Judah against them that came from the war, and Israel. 13 And said unto them, Ye shall not 27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and bring in the captives hither: for whereas they buried him in the city, even in Jeruwe have offended against the LORD alrea- salem: but they brought him not into the dy, ye intend to add more to our sins and sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Heto our trespass: for our trespass is great, zekiah his son reigned in his stead. and there is fierce wrath against Israel.

14 So the armed men left the captives

CHAP. XXIX.

and the spoil before the princes and all HEZEKIAH began to reign when he

was five and twenty years old, and the congregation. he reigned nine and twenty years in Jeru15 And the men which were expressed salem. And his mother's name was Abijah by name rose up, and took the captives, the daughter of Zechariah. and with the spoil clothed all that were 2 And he did that which was right in naked among them, and arrayed them, and the sight of the LORD, according to all that shod them, and gave them to eat and to David his father had done. 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.

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

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

16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him. 5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye 17 For again the Edomites had come and Levites;Sanctify now yourselves, and sancsmitten Judah, and carried away captives. tify the house of the LORD God of your 18 The Philistines also had invaded the fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out cities of the low country, and of the south of the holy place.

of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, 6 For our fathers have trespassed, and and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho done that which was evil in the eyes of the with the villages thereof, and Timnah LORD our God, and have forsaken him, with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and and have turned away their faces from the the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. habitation of the LORD, and turned their 19 For the LORD brought Judah low backs.

because of Ahaz king of Israel: for he 7 Also they have shut up the doors of made Judah naked, and transgressed sore the porch, and put out the lamps, and have against the LORD. not burned incense nor offered burnt-of20 And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assy-ferings in the holy place unto the God of ria came unto him, and distressed him, Israel. but strengthened him not.

8 Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was 21 For Ahaz took away a portion out upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath of the house of the LORD, and out of the delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, house of the king, and of the princes, and and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes. gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he 9 For lo, our fathers have fallen by the helped him not. sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.

22 ¶ And in the time of his distress did be trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.

10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, 23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. Damascus, which smote him: and he said, 11 My sons, be not now negligent: for Because the gods of the kings of Syria help the LORD hath chosen you to stand before