Amaziah's reign and idolatry. 2 CHRONICLES.-CHAP. XXVI. o ver. 11,12 P&96.5. S But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the P counsel 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. k 11 And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valey of salt, and smote of the children 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. m led. q 1 Sa.225. A. M. 3178. B. C. 826. r 2Ki. 14.8, &c. 8 or, furze bush, or, thorn. t beast of the field. u Iki 1215. c.22.7. ver. 16. ▾ smitten. w c.21.17. x c.3.9. y gate of it that looketh. A. M. 3179..3194. B. C. 825..810. z 2Ki.14.17, &c. A. M. 3194. B. C. 810. a c. 15.2. b after. c conspired a con piracy. di e. the city of David. 2Ki.14.20. 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 bor, Azaout of thy hand? a 2Ki.14.21, 22. 15.1,&c. riah. A. M. 3194..3246. B. C. 810..758. c c.24.2. Ge. 41. 15, 38. 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 P determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto seeing. 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. Uzziah's prosperity. 19 Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thy heart lifteth thee up to boast abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee? 20 But 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. W V 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 d Judah. HEN 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. e 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 Ash dod, 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 him self 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. Uzziah's reign and death. 2 CHRONICLES.-CHAP. XXVII., XXVIII. 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. A. M. 3194..9246. B. C. 810..758. m or, cut out many cisterna. nor, fruit ful fields. p the power The reign of Jotham. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that nis father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly. b 3¶ He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much. 11 ¶ Moreover Uzziah had a host of fighting 12 The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two thousand and six hundred. q stones of s De.8.14. t Pr. 16.18. u 2Ki. 16. 12, 13. X B. C. 758. A. M. B. C. 758..742. 2K15.32, &c. lover. 27. c This. 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 bor, the 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 thy honour from the LORD God. 19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while fc.19.3. 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. a 4 Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles 5 d He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year a 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. e f 9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead. CHAPTER XXVIII. 1 Abaz reigning very wickedly is greatly afflicted by the Syrians 6 Judah being captivated by the Israelites is sent home by the counsel of Oded the prophet. 16 Alas sending for aid to Assyria is not helped thereby. 22 In his distress be groweth more idolatrous. 26 He dying, Hezekiah succeedeth him. AHAZ was twenty years old when he be gan 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. 5 Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and 20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the they smote him, and carried away a great priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was multitude of them captives, and brought them Jeprous in his forehead, and they thrust him to Damascus. And he was also delivered out from thence; yea, himself hasted also A. M. 3263 into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote 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 fhouse, 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. d or, offered 2 K.33.10. him with a great slaughter. 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 Eze 16.20, fathers. c. 33.6. Ps. 106.37. 21 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 thou sand, 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 Eze 25.12 them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and "ye have 26.2,3. r Is.58.6. Je.34.14. 11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of Ja213 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. 8 t ver. 12 u 2 Ki.6.22 Pr.25.21, 22 Lu.8.27, v Ro.15.1. w De.34.3. Ju.1.16. 2 Ki.16.7. y 06.10,13, 14. captivity a Eze 16. 27,57. b Pa. 106.43. Hezekiah's good reign. 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. 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 Re.3.17,18 street, c Ex.32.25. 16.15. A. M. 3264. B. C. 740. 16.7..9. 5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the 15 And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and a 2.15.29. house of the LORD God of your fathers, 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 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. 17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. 8 Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was 18 The Philistines also had invaded the upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delicities of the low country, and of the south of a 2 KL.181, vered them to trouble, to astonishment, and 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. 12 T 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 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 out The house of God cleansed. 2 CHRONICLES.-CHAP. XXX. Hezekiah's sacrifice. to carry it out abroad into the brook Ki-thank-offerings into the house of the LORD. dron. 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 shew-bread table, with all the vessels thereof. x 1 Ki.6.3. y c.28.24. z Le.4.3,14. a Le.8.14, &c. He.9.21. 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, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a 1 Ch.16.4. burnt-offering to the LORD. b near. 23.5. 25.1,&c. d 28a.24.11. e c.30.12. f by the 19 Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast ▾ away in his trans-1 gression, 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. hand of Ch.23.5. Ps. 87.7. 150.3..5. Is.38.20. h 1Ch.16.6. in the time. Jc.23.18. instru ments. 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. u 35 And also the burnt-offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace-offerings, and the drink-offerings for every burnt-of LORD was set in order. 21 And they brought seven bullocks, and hands offering. So the service of the house of the seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven hegoats, 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. 36 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly. CHAPTER 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 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 26 And the Levites stood with the instru- d was right long time in such sort as it was written. ments of David, and the priests with the h 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 m n 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 P 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 eyes of. e De. 12.32. 1C.11.2 from the hand of. g Je. 4.1. La.5.21. 6 So the posts went with the letters from f 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 reJoel 2.13, turn 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 He3.7.11 your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as you see. t c.11.16. ver. 18,21. u Je.24.7. Eze.36.26. Ph.2.13. 12 Also in Judah the hand of God" was to v c.29.25. 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. W 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. w Pa.84.7. x c.28.24. y c.29.34. z standing. a ver.11. b No.9.10, &c. c c. 19.3. d Ja.5.15. 15 Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the found. priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD. f instruments of strength. heart of all. Is.40.2. D.3.10. Er.10.11. 16 And they stood in their place after their to the 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. I lifted up, or offered. Idolatry is destroyed. 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. CHAPTER XXXI. 1 The people is forward in destroying idolatry. 2 Hezekiah ordereth the courses of the priests and Levites, and provideth for their work and maintenance. 5 The people's forwardness in offerings and tithes. 11 Hezekiah appointeth officers to dispose of the tithes. 20 The sincerity of Hezekiah. NOW a WOW when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in b 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 peaceofferings, 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 18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zeb-k the habi- abroad, the children of Israel brought in 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 i 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. d c.30.14. e to make an end. f 1Ch.23.6. 24.1,&c. 1Ch.23.30. h Nu.28.29. ¡ Nn. 18.8, &c. Ne. 13.10 ..13. J Mal. 2.7. 1 Ca. 9.9.. 11. Ga. 6.6. k brenk forth. 7 In the third P 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 mor, dates. 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 Levice, |