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

Reign of Jotham.

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

17 And Azariah the priest went in after 7¶Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, him, and with him fourscore priests of the and all his wars, and his ways, lo, they LORD, that were valiant men: are written in the book of the kings of Is

18 And they withstood Uzziah the king,]rael and Judah.

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

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

19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had

CHAP. XXVIII.

censer in his hand to burn incense and AHAZ was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixwhile he was wroth with the priests, the teen years in Jerusalem: but he did not leprosy even rose up in his forehead be- that which was right in the sight of the fore the priests in the house of the LORD, LORD, like David his father: from beside the incense-altar. 2 For he walked in the ways of the 20 And Azariah the chief priest, and kings of Israel, and made also molten all the priests looked upon him, and be- images for Baalim. hold, 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.

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; 22 T Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, and they smote him, and carried away a first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the great multitude of them captives, and son of Amoz, write. brought them to Damascus. And he was 23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and also delivered into the hand of the king they buried him with his fathers in the field of Israel, who smote him with a great of the burial which belonged to the kings; slaughter. for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

CHAP. XXVII.

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.

6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah a 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 2 And he did that which was right in that was next to the king. the sight of the LORD, according to all 8 And the children of Israel carried that his father Uzziah did: howbeit, he away captive of their brethren two hunentered not into the temple of the LORD. dred thousand, women, sons, and daughAnd the people did yet corruptly. ters, and took also away much spoil from 3 He built the high gate of the house of them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he 9 But a prophet of the LORD was there,

built much. whose name was Oded: and he went out 4 Moreover, he built cities in the moun- before the host that came to Samaria, and tains of Judah, and in the forests he built said unto them, Behold, because the LORD castles and towers.* God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, 5 ¶ He fought also with the king of the he hath delivered them into your hand,

Ahaz's great impiety.

II. CHRONICLES.

Hezekiah's good reign.

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

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

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

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

14 So the armed men left the captives

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.

CHAP. XXIX.

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 17 For again the Edomites had come and Levites; Sanctify now yourselves, and sancsmitten Judah, and carried away captives. tify the house of the LORD God of your 18 The Philistines also had invaded the fathers," and carry forth the filthiness out cities of the low country, and of the south of the holy place. of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh,| 6 For our fathers have trespassed, and and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho done that which was evil in the eyes of the with the villages thereof, and Timah LORD our God, and have forsaken him, with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and and have turned away their faces from the the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. habitation of the LORD, and turned their 19 For the LORD brought Judah low backs.

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

8 Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was

21 For Ahaz took away a portion out upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath of the house of the LORD, and out of the delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, house of the king, and of the princes, and and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes. gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he9 For to, our fathers have fallen by the helped him not. sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this..

22 T 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

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

CHAP. XXIX.

The house of God is cleansed. him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense.

Hezekiah's sacrifice.

24 And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood 12 T Then the Levites arose, Mahath upon the altar, to make an atonement for the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of all Israel: for the king commanded that the Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: burnt-offering and the sin-offering should and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of be made for all Israel.

Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: 25 And he set the Levites in the house and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah: and with harps, according to the com13 And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shim- mandment of David, and of Gad the king's ri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was Zachariah, and Mattaniah: the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.

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.

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, 16 And the priests went into the inner and with the instruments ordained by Dapart of the house of the LORD, to cleanse vid king of Israel.

at, and brought out all the uncleanness that 28 And all the congregation worshipped, they found in the temple of the LORD into and the singers sang, and the trumpeters the court of the house of the LORD. And sounded: and all this continued until the the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad burnt-offering was finished.

into the brook Kidron.

29 And when they had made an end of

17 Now they began on the first day of offering, the king and all that were prethe first month to sanctify, and on the sent with him bowed themselves, and woreighth day of the month came they to the shipped. 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.

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.

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- 31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, offering, with all the vessels thereof, and Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the shew-bread table, with all the vessels the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices thereof. and thank-offerings into the house of the 19 Moreover all the vessels, which king LORD. And the congregation brought in Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his sacrifices and thank-offerings; and, as transgression, have we prepared and sanc- many as were of a free heart, burnt-offertified, and behold, they are before the al-ings. tar of the LORD.

20 T Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD.

32 And the number of the burnt-offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt-offering to the LORD.

21 And they brought seven bull cks and seven rams, and seven lambs, and 33 And the consecrated things, were six seven he-goats, for a sin-offering for the hundred oxen and three thousand sheep. kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for 34 But the priests were too few, so that Judah. And he commanded the priests they could not flay all the burnt-offerings: the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar wherefore their brethren the Levites did of the LORD. help them till the work was ended, and 22 So they killed the bullocks, and the until the other priests had sanctified thempriests received the blood, and sprinkled selves: for the Levites were more upright it on the altar: likewise, when they had in heart to sanctify themselves than the killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood priests.

upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, 35 And also the burnt-offerings were in and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar. abundance, with the fat of the peace-offer23 And they brought forth the he-goats ings, and the drink-offerings for every for the sin-offering before the king and burnt-offering. So the service of the house the congregation; and they laid their of the LORD was set in order. hands upon them: 36 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the

A passover is proclaimed,

II. CHRONICLES.

people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.

CHAP. XXX.

and solemnly observed.

13 And there assembled at Jerusa lem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a

AND Hezekiah sent to all Israel and very great congregation.

Judah, and wrote letters also to 14 And they arose and took away the Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the come to the house of the LORD at Jeru-altars for incense took they away, and cast salem, to keep the passover unto the LORD them into the brook Kidron.

God of Israel.

15 Then they killed the passover on

2 For the king had taken counsel, and the fourteenth day of the second month: his princes, and all the congregation in and the priests and the Levites were Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and second month. brought in the burnt-offerings into the

3 For they could not keep it at that house of the LORD. time, because the priests had not sancti-] 16 And they stood. in their place after fied themselves sufficiently, neither had their manner, according to the law of Mothe people gathered themselves together ses the man of God: the priests sprinkled to Jerusalem. the blood, which they received of the hand

4 And the thing pleased the king and of the Levites. all the congregation.

17 For there were many in the congre5 So they established a decree to make gation that were not sanctified: therefore proclamation throughout all Israel, from the Levites had the charge of the killing Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should of the passovers for every one that was not come to keep the passover unto the LORD clean, to sanctify them 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.

18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed them6 So the posts went with the letters from selves, yet did they eat the passover otherthe king and his princes throughout all Is-wise than it was written. But Hezekiah rael and Judah, and according to the com- prayed for them, saying, The good LORD mandment of the king, saying, Ye chil- pardon every one

dren of Israel, turn again unto the LORD 19 That prepareth his heart to seek God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he will return to the remnant of you that he be not cleansed according to the purifiare escaped out of the hand of the kings cation of the sanctuary.

of Assyria.

ye see.

20 And the LORD hearkened to Heze

7 And be not ye like your fathers, and kiah, and healed the people. like your brethren, which trespassed 21 And the children of Israel that were against the LORD God of their fathers, who present at Jerusalem kept the feast of untherefore gave them up to desolation, as leavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests 8 Now be ye not stiff-necked, as your praised the LORD day by day, singing with fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the loud instruments unto the LORD. LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which 22 And Hezekiah spake comfortably he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the unto all the Levites that taught the good LORD your God, that the fierceness of his knowledge of the LORD: and they did wrath may turn away from you. eat throughout the feast seven days, offer9 For if ye turn again unto the LORD, ing peace-offerings, and making confession your brethren and your children shall find to the LORD God of their fathers. compassion before them that lead them 23 And the whole assembly took councaptive, so that they shall come again into sel to keep other seven days: and they this land for the LORD your God is gra- kept other seven days with gladness. cious and merciful, and will not turn away 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah did his face from you, if ye return unto him. give to the congregation a thousand bul10 So the posts passed from city to city locks and seven thousand sheep; and the through the country of Ephraim and Ma-princes gave to the congregation a thounasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laugh- sand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: ed them to scorn, and mocked them. and a great number of priests sanctified 11 Nevertheless, divers of Asher and themselves. Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled them- 25 And all the congregation of Judah, selves, and came to Jerusalem. with the priests and the Levites, and all 12 Also in Judah the hand of God was the congregation that came out of Israel, to give them one heart to do the com- and the strangers that came out of the land mandment of the king and of the princes, of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. by the word of the LORD. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem:

for since the time of Solomon the son of 11 Then Hezekiah commanded to David king of Israel there was not the like prepare chambers in the house of the in Jerusalem. LORD; and they prepared them,

27 T 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. CHAP. XXXI..

12 And brought in the offerings and the tithes, and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Conaniah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next. 13 And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Na

OW when all this was finished, all hath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jo

were present

the cities of Judah, and brake the images hath, and Benaiah, were overseers under in pieces, and cut down the groves, and the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his threw down the high places and the altars brother, at the commandment of Hezeout of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim kiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of also and Manasseh, until they had utterly the house of God.

destroyed them all. Then all the children 14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Leof Israel returned, every man to his pos- vite, the porter toward the east, was over session,into their own cities. the free-will-offerings of God, to distribute 21 And Hezekiah appointed the courses the oblations of the LORD, and the most of the priests and the Levites after their holy things.

courses, every man according to his ser- 15 And next him were Eden, and Mivice, the priests and Levites for burnt- niamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amaofferings and for peace-offerings, to minis- riah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the ter, and to give thanks, and to praise in priests, in their set office, to give to their the gates of the tents of the LORD. brethren by courses, as well to the great

3 He appointed also the king's portion as to the small. of his substance for the burnt-offerings, to 16 Besides their genealogy of males, wit, for the morning and evening burnt-from three years old and upward, even offerings, and the burnt-offerings for the unto every one that entereth into the house sabbaths, and for the new-moons, and for of the LORD, his daily portion for their the set feasts, as it is written in the law of service in their charges according to their the LORD.

courses;

4 Moreover, he commanded the people 17 Both to the genealogy of the priests that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion by the house of their fathers, and the Leof the priests and the Levites, that they vites from twenty years old and upward, might be encouraged in the law of the in their charges, by their courses;

LORD.

18 And to the genealogy of all their lit

5 And as soon as the commandment tle ones, their wives, and their sons, and came abroad, the children of Israel brought their daughters, through all the congregain abundance the first-fruits of corn, wine, tion: for in their set office they sanctified and oil, and honey, and of all the increase themselves in holiness:

of the field; and the tithe of all things 19 Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, brought they in abundantly. which were in the fields of the suburbs of 6 And concerning the children of Israel their cities, in every several city, the men and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Ju- that were expressed by name, to give pordah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen tions to all the males among the priests, and sheep, and the tithe of holy things and to all that were reckoned by genealowhich were consecrated unto the LORD gies among the Levites. 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.

20 T 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 8 And when Hezekiah and the princes the service of the house of God, and in the came and saw the heaps, they blessed the law, and in the commandments, to seek LORD, and his people Israel. his God, he did it with all his heart, and

9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the prospered. priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

CHAP. XXXII.

10 And Azariah the chief priest of the AFTER these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of house of Zadok answered him, and said, Assyria came, and entered into Judah, Since the people began to bring the offer- and encamped against the fenced cities, ings into the house of the LORD, we have and thought to win them for himself. had enough to eat, and have left plenty: 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennafor the LORD hath blessed his people; and cherib was come, and that he was purthat which is left is this great store. posed to fight against Jerusalem,