CHAP. XXIX. 1 Hezekiah's good reign. 3 He restoreth reliligion. 5 He exhorteth the Levites. 12 They sanctify themselves, and cleanse the house of God. 20 Hezekiah offereth solemn sacri. ces, in which the Levites were more forward than the priests. TEZEKIAH a 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. Before CHRIST, 726. a 2 Kings 18. 1. 1 Heb. 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 given the eighth day of the month they came to the porch of the LORD: So they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days; and on the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end. neck. 2 Heb. commotion. 3 or, be not noto 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 deceived. the Levites, and assembled them in the east street, 5 And said to 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 1 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 to the God of Israel. 8 Wherefore the wrath of the LORD hath been upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to 2 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 my heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. Numb. 3. 6. & 8. 14. & 18. 2. 6. 4 or, offer sacrifice. 5 or, in the business of the LORD. < Lev. 4. 3. 14. 6 d Lev. 8. 14. 15. 19. 24. Hebr. 9. 21. Heb. near. Lev. 4. 15. 24. 1 Chr. 16. 11 My sons, 3 be not now negligent: 4. & 25. 6. for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister to him, and 4 burn in cense. 7 Heb. by the hand of the LORD. 12 ¶ Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of 8 Heb. by Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: the hand 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. 9 Heb. in the time. 10 Heb. bands of instru ments. 15 And they assembled their brethren, 11 Heb. and sanctified themselves, and came, ac- song. cording to the commandment of the king, s by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD. of 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 its vessels, and the show-bread table, with all its vessels. 19 Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign 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 convened 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. d 22 So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and a 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 hegoats 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 7 of the LORD 8 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 9 when the burnt-offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the 10 instruments ordained by David king of Israel. 28 And all the congregation worshiped, and the 11 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 12 present with him bowed themselves, and worshiped. Before CHRIST, 726. 30 Moreover, Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise to the LORD, with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they 12 Heb. bowed their heads and worshiped. 31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have 13 consecrated yourselves to 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 seventy bullocks, a 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. found. 13 or, filled your hand. 14 Heb. strengthen ed them. a Numb. 9. 10. 11. 1 Heb. was right in the eyes the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you that have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, who trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. 8 Now 3 be ye not stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but 4 yield yourselves to 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 to the LORD, your brethren and your children will find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they will return into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return to him. 10 So the posts passed from city to ci Manasseh even to Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. 34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt-of- of the king. ty through the country of Ephraim and ferings: wherefore their brethren the Levites 14 helped 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 peaceofferings, and the drink-offerings for every burnt-offering. So the service of the house of 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. CHAP. XXX. 1 Hezekiah proclaimeth a solemn passover on the second month for Judah and Israel. 13 The assembly having destroyed the altars of idolatry, keep the feast fourteen days. 27 The priests and Levites bless the people. AND Hezekiah sent to all Israel and 2 Heb. from the hand. 3 Heb. 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 T And there assembled at Jerusalem many people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. 14 And they arose and took away the harden note altars that were in Jerusalem, and all your necks. the altars for incense they took away, and cast them into the brook Kidron. Judah, and wrote letters also to 4 Heb. Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should give the come to the house of the LORD at Jeru- hand. salem, to keep the passover to 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 Ex. 34. 6. second a month. 3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people assembled themselves at 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 to the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in the manner as it was written. 6 So the posts went with the letters 2 from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according tol cc. 28. 24. 5 Heb. their standing. 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 5 their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received from 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 to the LORD. 18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate 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 is 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 7loud instruments to the LORD. 22 And Hezekiah spoke 8 comfortably to all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they ate 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. CHRIST, ple 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. 6 Heb. found. 7 Heb. in- 9 Heb. to the heart of all, &c. Heb. lifted up, or, of fered." 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah 9 gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks 10 Heb. the and seven thousand sheep; and the habitation princes gave to the congregation a thou- of his holi sand 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 ness. 11 Heb. 4. 5 And as soon as the commandment 14 came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the first-fruits of corn, wine, and oil, and 15 honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things they brought in abundantly. 6 And 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 to the LORD their God, and laid them 16 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 the congregation that came out of Israel, 2 Kings 18. house of Zadok answered him, and said, and the strangers that came from 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 ascended to 10 his holy dwelling-place, even to heaven. CHAP. XXXI. 12 Heb. statues. Num. 28. & 29. 1 The people are forward in destroying idola- OW 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 abund ance. 11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare 17 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 Conaniah 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 18 under the hand of Conaniah and Shi Now when all this was finished, all 15 or, dates. mei his brother, at the commandment of Israel that were 11 present went out < Lev. 27.30. Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. to the cities of Judah, and broke the 13 until they had utterly destroyed them 16 Heb.heaps 2 And Hezekiah appointed the 17 or, store- over the free-will-offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the most holy things. 15 And 19 next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their 20 set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small: 16 Besides their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even to every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their Before gregation for in their 21 set office they CHRIST, sanctified themselves in holiness: 19 Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, who 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 performed 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. CHAP. XXXII. 713. 21 or, trust. a 2 Kings 18. 1 Heb. to 2 Heb. his war. 3 Heb. over 4 or, swords, pons. 1 Sennacherib invading Judah, Hezekiah for. FTER a these things, and their es 10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, On what do ye trust, that ye abide 8 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 will 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 to all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of my hand? 14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of my hand? 15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you in this manJer. 17. 5. of any nation or kingdom hath been able ner, neither yet believe him: for no god to deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of my hand? 6 Heb. 2 Kings 18. 17. Assyria came, and entered into Judah, 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that 2 he purposed to fight against Jerusalem, minion. 8 in the 3 He took counsel with his princes] and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the strong city: and they helped him. 4 So there were assembled many people, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that 3 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 4 darts and shields in abundance. hold. d 2 Kings 19. 16 And his servants spoke yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah. 17 He wrote also letters to rail at 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 my hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of my hand. 18 Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech to the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to fill them with consternation; that they might take the city. 19 And they spoke against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, the work of the hands of man. 20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of 6 And he set captains of war over the Heb. made Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. people, and assembled them to him in the street of the gate of the city, and 5 encouraged them, saying, 7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is him fall. 21 And the LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, 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 had come into the house of his god, they that came forth from his own with him for there are more with us 10 Heb. pre-bowels 9slew him there with the sword. Before LORD: and he spoke to him, and he CHRIST, u gave him a sign. 11 or, 698. wrought a miracle for him. Heb. the lifting up. 13 Heb. in. 25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done to him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Notwithstanding, Hezekiah hum-12 bled himself for 12 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 very great riches and honor: 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 13 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 for himself cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance in great abundance. 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. struments of desire. 14 Heb. in. terpreters. 15 Heb.kind nesses. 16 or,highest. 42 Kings 21. 1, &c. Deut. 18. 1 Heb. he returned and built. 2 Kings 18. 4. 9. d Deut. 1. 11. 1 Kings 8. c. 6. 6. & 7. 16. 31 But, in the business of the 14 embassadors of the princes of Babylon, who 29. &9.3. sent to 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 15 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 16 chief of the sepulchers of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead. CHAP. XXXIII. Ps. 132. 14. 12 Sam.7.10. e 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 the land which I have appointed for your fathers; provided 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 spoke to Manasseh, and to his people but they would not hearken. 11 ¶ Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the army 2 of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with 3 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 to him: and he was entreated by him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he is 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 entrance at the fish-gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great highth, and put captains of war in all the fortified 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 on it peace-offerings and thank-offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. 17 Nevertheless, the people sacrificed still in the high places, yet to the LORD their God only. 18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers that spoke 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 entreated by him, and all his sin, and his C |