Amaziah's idolatry. B. C. II. CHRONICLES. which Amaziah sent back, that they about 827. 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 i See ch. 28. 23. 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. * Ex 20.3, 5. 1 Ps. 96. 5. m ver. 11. + Heb. counselled. n1 Sam. 2. 25. 826. o 2 Kings 14. 8, 9, &c. Il Or, furzebush, or, thorn. 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 mcould 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. n 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 + Heb. a beast wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle. of the field. p 1 Kings 12. 15. ch. 22. 7. q ver. 14. + Heb. smitLen. r See ch. 21.17. & 22. 1, 6. 19 Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast abide now at home; why shouldest thou medIdle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee? 20 But Amaziah would not hear; for Pit 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 The reign of Uzziah. B. C. 826. to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four + Heb. the 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 Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria. gate of it that looketh. 17. 25 ¶ And Amaziah the son of Joash $2 Kings 14. 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. 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 seeing of God made him to prosper. 6 And he went forth and dwarred a Is. 14. 29. 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 Mehunim. II. CHRONICLES. abroad even to the entering in of 9 Moreover Uzziah built towers in Neh. 3. Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of Or,repaired. the wall, and fortified them. 13, 13, 32, Zech. 14. 10. 10 Also he built towers in the des1 Or, cut out ert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains; husbandmen also, and vinedressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry. 1 Or, fruitful Belda. + Heb.ground. 18. 7. 11 Moreover Uzziah had a 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 tan army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that The reign of Jotham. PAs Esth, 6. 12. 42 Kings 15.5. 20 And Azariah the chief priest, and 22 Now the rest of the acts of CHAPTER XXVII. made war with mighty power, to help JO 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 Nam 16. 40. king, and said unto him, It m appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but Ex. 30. 7, 8. 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 Num. 12. 10. with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the 2 Kings 5.27. His acts. 9 Ahuz succeedeth him. r Lev. 13. 46. Num. 5. 2. 18. 1. L. 2 Kings 15. 7. Is. 6. 1. 758. 32, &c. OTHAM was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, 2 Kings 15. 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 b2 Kings 15. yet corruptly. b 35. 3 He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel Or, The towhe built much. 4 Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers. er, ch. 33. 14 Neb. 3. 26. 5 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 chil-Heb. This. dren of Ammon pay unto him, both the second year, and the third. 6 So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before Or, estabthe 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 lished. © 2 Kings 15. 38. about 742. The reign of Ahaz. B. C. about 742. 741. a 2 Kings 16. 2. b Ex. 34. 17. Lev. 19. 4. Il Or, offered sacrifice. e Judg. 2. 11. d 2 Kings 23. 10. e Lev. 18. 21. 2 Kings 16. 3. ch. 33. 6. about 741. f is. 7. 1. 2 Kings 16. 5, 6. + Heb. Darmesek. II. CHRONICLES. city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead. CHAPTER XXVIII. Ahaz reigning wickedly is afflicted by the Syrians. 8 The Israelites, by the counsel of Oded the prophet, send home the captives taken from Judah. 16 Ahaz sendeth for aid to Assyria. 22 In his distress he groweth more idolatrous. 26 Hezekiah succeedeth him. 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. b 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 a hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all + Heb. sons of 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. h 2 Kings 15. 27. valour. + Heb. the second to the king. i ch. 11. 4. h 8 T 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. k 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 &c. Zech. I have slain them in a rage that 'reacheth up unto heaven. k Ps. 69. 26. Is. 10. 5. & 47. 6. Ez. 25. 12, 15. & 26. 2. Obad. 10, 15. 1 Ezra 9. 6. Rev. 18. 5. m Lev. 25, 39, 42, 43, 46. 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? His great idolatry. B. C. 11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye about 741. have taken captive of your brethren : " for the fierce wrath of the LORD is a James 2. 13. 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 Had lai, 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 Pgave 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 Aijalon, and Gederoth, and Soco 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. The reign of Hezekiah. B. C. 740. 7. me. But they were the ruin of him, ters and our wives are in captivity for 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 See ch. 29.3, 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 JuOr, to offer. dah 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. 2 Kings 16. 19, 20. 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 28.& 25.9, ye see with your eyes. J. & 29. 18. 9 For, lo, our fathers have fallen by en 28.5,5.3,17. the sword, and our sons and our daugh this. B. C. 726. 10 Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Is-k ch. 15. 12. rael, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. now deceived. 1 Num. 3. 6. 11 My sons, be not now negligent: Or, be not 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 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. || Or, offer sacrifice. m ver. 5. Or, in the business of the LORD, ch. 30. 12. n 1 Chr. 23. 28. o eh. 28. 24. 21 And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a Psin offering for P Lev. 4. 3, 14. the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded Hezekiah's sacrifices. B. C. 726. q Lev. 8. 14, 15, 19, 24. Heb. 9. 21. + Heb. near. r Lev. 4. 15, 24. s Lev. 14. 20. t1 Chr. 16. 4. & 25. 6. u Chr. 23, 5. 14. II. CHRONICLES. 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: 8 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 & 25. 1. ch. 8. 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 com+ Heb. by the mandment of the LORD by his x 2 Sam. 24. 11. y ch. 30. 12. hand of the LORD. + Heb. by the hand of. z 1 Chr. 23. 5. Am. 6. 5. a Num. 10. 8. 10. 1 Chr. 15. 24. & 16. 6. + Heb. in the time. prophets. 26 And the Levites stood with the 2 A passover proclaimed. all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD. 33 And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep. B. C. 723. e ch. 35. 11. strengthened them. 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 + Heb., 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. CHAPTER XXX. Hezekiah proclaimeth a solemn passover on the sec ond month for Judah and Israel. 13 The assembly destroy the altars of idolatry. 15 They keep the feast fourteen days. 27 The priests and Levites bless the people. instruments of David, and the priests AND Hezekiah sent to all Israel 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 + Heb. hands the trumpets, and with the tinstruments ordained by David king of Israel. of instru ments. b ch. 23. 18. 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, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs |