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