And so Salomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the hill altar of Gabaon: for there was the tabernacle of witness of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD made in the wilderness.
Moreover the brazen altar that Bezeleel the son of Uri, the son of Or had made, was at Gabaon also, before the tabernacle of the LORD. And Salomon and the congregation went to visit it.
Then God said to Salomon, because thou hadst this in thine heart, and didst not ask treasure and riches, and honour and the lives of thine enemies, neither yet long life: But hast asked wisdom and knowledge, to judge my people, over which I have made thee king:
wisdom and knowledge shall be given thee, and I will give thee treasure, riches, and glory also, that among the kings before thee or after thee, none was or shall be like thee.
And Salomon gathered chariots and horsemen: that he had a thousand and four hundredth chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he bestowed in the chariot cities and about the king at Jerusalem.
They came and brought out of Egypt a chariot for five hundredth sicles, and an horse for one hundredth and fifty. And so brought they to all the kings of the Hethites and to the kings of Siria thorow the hands of the said merchants.
and told out three score and ten thousand men to bear burthens and four score thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundredth to oversee them.
And Salomon sent to Hiram king of Tire saying: As thou didst deal with David my father and didst send him Cedar wood, to build him an house to dwell in, even so deal with me now:
that I may build an house for the name of the LORD my God, to consecrate it to him to burn sweet odours and to set shewbread before him perpetually, and for burntsacrifices morning and evening, and on the Sabbath days, and the first day of every new moon, and in the solempne feasts of the LORD our God, so to continue ever in Israel.
So that who can be able to build him an house: when that heaven, neither heaven above all heavens, is able to receive him, what am I then that I should build him an house? Nay, but to burn sacrifice before him:
send me now therefore a cunning man to work in gold, silver, brass, iron, scarlet, crimson and Jacinth colour, and that can skill to grave, to be with the cunning men that are with me in Juda and Jerusalem, which David my father did prepare.
And send me also Cedar trees, fir trees and Algume trees out of Libanon. For I wot well thy servants can skill to hew timber in Libanon. And see, my men shall be with thine,
And behold, I sent for thy servants the cutters and hewers of timber twenty thousand quarters of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand quarters of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.
And Hiram said moreover: blessed be the LORD God of Israel which hath made both heaven and earth, that he hath given David the king a wise son that hath discretion and understanding, to build an house for the LORD, and another for his kingdom.
and is the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, (howbeit his father was a Tirian) and he can skill to work in gold, silver, brass, iron, stone, timber, scarlet, Jacinth, byss and crimson: and grave all manner of gravings, and to find out all manner of subtle work that shall be set before him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father.
And we will cut wood out of Libanon, as much as thou shalt need, and will bring it to thee in ships by sea to port Japo: and thence thou mayest carry them to Jerusalem.
And Salomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the time his father David had numbered them. And they were found an hundredth and eighty thousand and six hundredth.
And he set eighty thousand of them to bear burthens, and eighty thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundredth to courage and to set the people a work.
And Salomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, which was shewed David his father when he prepared a place in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
And the porch at the end was as large as the house breadth twenty cubits: and the height was an hundredth and twenty cubits. And he overlaid it on the inner side with pure gold.
And he made the house most holy, whose length was twenty cubits like to the breadth of the house, and the breadth thereof was also twenty cubits. And he overlaid it with the best gold, that drew to the sum of six hundredth talents.
And the wings of the Cherubs were twenty cubits long. The one wing was five cubits and touched the wall of the house, and the other wing was likewise five cubits and touched the wing of the other Cherub.
And the one wing of the other Cherub was five cubits, and touched the wall of the house, and the other wing was five cubits also, and raught to the wing of the other Cherub.
And he cast a brazen sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, and round in compass and five cubits high: and a line of thirty cubits might have compassed it round about.
And the fashion of oxen did compass it round about under it: that is to wete, two rows of oxen cast when it was cast did compass that sea which was ten cubits wide, round about.
And it stood also upon twelve oxen: of which three looked North, three West, three South and three East, and the sea upon them above on high, and the hinder parts of them inward.
And he made ten lavers: and put five on the right hand and five on the left, to wash with all. And in them they thrust the flesh of the burntofferings. But the sea was for the priests to wash in.
The two pillars with their scalps of the two heads that were on the tops of the pillars: and the two wreaths to cover the two scalps of the heads that were on the tops of the pillars:
and four hundredth pomegranates for the two wreaths, two rows of pomegranates for every wreath, to cover the two scalps of the heads that were on the pillars.
and the dressing knives, basins, spoons and censers of pure gold. And the inner doors of the place most holy, and the doors of the temple too, were gold.
And so was all the work that Salomon made for the house of the LORD finished. And when the work that Salomon made in the house of the LORD was finished: then Salomon brought in the gifts dedicate by David his father, the silver and the gold and all the Jewels, and put them among the treasure of the house of God.
Then Salomon gathered the elders of Israel together and all the heads of the tribes and ancient lords among the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem: to bring the Ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David which is Sion.
And king Salomon and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the Ark, offered sheep and oxen, so many that they could not be told or numbered for multitude.
And the priests brought the Ark of the appointment of the LORD unto his place in the quere of the temple and place most holy: even under the wings of the Cherubs,
Moreover 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, after they were come out of Egypt.
But the Levites every one of them that were under Asaph, Heman and Iduthun, and among their children and brethren, were arrayed in byss and sang with Cymbals, Psalteries, and harps standing East from the altar, and with them an hundredth and twenty priests blowing trumpets.
And the trumpet blowers and the singers so agreed, that it seemed but one voice in praising and thanking the LORD. And as the voice of the trumpets, cymbals and instruments of melody arose, and as they praised the LORD, how that he was good and that his mercy lasteth ever, the house of the LORD was filled with a cloud:
since the time I brought 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.
But the LORD said to David my father: for as much as it was in thine heart, to build an house for my name, thou didst well that thou hadst it in thine heart.
And the LORD hath made good his saying that he hath spoken. For I arose in the room of David my father, and sat on the seat of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
now Salomon had made a Brazen pulpit of five cubits long and five cubits broad, and three of height, and had set it in the midst of the great court, upon that he stepped and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel and stretched out his hands to heaven
and said: LORD God of Israel there is no God like thee either in heaven or in earth, which keepest covenant and shewest mercy unto thy servants that walk before thee with all their hearts.
Which hast kept with David my father that thou promisedest him: thou saidest it with thy mouth and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is to see this day.
Now LORD God of Israel keep with thy servant David my father, that thou promisedest him saying: thou shalt not be without one or other in my sight that shall sit upon the seat of Israel. Of this condition yet, if thy children will take heed to their ways to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.
which thou saidest unto thy servant David. How be it in very deed, can God dwell with man on earth? Behold, neither heaven or heaven above all heavens is able to contain thee: how should the house then which I have built for thee do it?
But turn to the prayer of thy servant and to his supplication (O LORD my God) to hearken unto the voice and prayer which thy servant maketh before thee.
That thine eyes be open over this house day and night, and over the place of which thou hast said, that thou wouldest put thy name there: to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth at this place:
Hearken therefore unto the prayers of thy servant and of thy people Israel, which they pray in this place. But hear thou it out of thy dwelling place heaven: and when thou hearest it be merciful.
If a man sin against his neighbour, and an adjuration be laid to his charge, to adjure him withal, and the adjuration come before thine altar in this house:
then hear thou from heaven, and work and judge thy servants, that thou reward the evil and bring his way upon his head, and justify the righteous and give him according to his righteousness.
Likewise if thy people Israel be put to the worse before their enemies, because they have sinned against thee: Yet if they turn and confess thy name, and make intercession and pray before thee in this house:
Then hear thou from heaven and be merciful unto the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.
If heaven be shut up, that there be no rain, because they have sinned against thee: yet if they pray at this place and confess thy name and turn from their sins at thy scourging:
Then hear thou from heaven and be merciful unto the sin of thy servants and of thy people Israel, that thou shew them a good way to walk in, and send rain upon thy land which thou hast given unto thy people, for an inheritance.
If there chance dearth in the land, pestilence, burning or smiting of corn, grasshoppers or caterpillars, or that their enemies besiege them in the cities of their own land, or whatsoever plague or sickness it be.
Then all the supplications and prayers that shall be made of all men among all thy people Israel, which shall know every man his own sore and his own grief, and shall stretch out their hands towards this house:
thou shalt hear from heaven thy dwelling place, and shalt be merciful, and give every man according unto all his way, even as thou shalt know every man's heart: for thou onely knowest the hearts of the children of Adam:
Thereto a stranger which is not of thy people Israel, if he come from a far land for thy great name's sake and thy mighty hand and stretched out arm, and therefore come and pray at this house:
thou shalt hear him from heaven thy dwelling place, and shalt do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for. That all the nations of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doeth thy people Israel: and that it may be known how that this house which I have built, is called after thy name.
When thy people shall go out to war, against their enemies the way that thou shalt send them. If they pray to thee, the way toward this city which thou hast chosen, and house which I have built for thy name:
If they shall sin against thee (as there is no man, but that he shall sin) and thou be angry with them and deliver them to their enemies, and they lead them away captive unto a land|country| far or near,|nye|
yet if their hearts come to them again in the land where they be in captivity, and turn and pray unto thee in the land where they be in captivity saying: we have sinned and have done evil and wickedly
and turn again to thee, with all their hearts and all their souls, in the land of their captivity where they be kept in bondage, and so pray toward their land which thou gavest unto their fathers, and city which thou hast chosen, and to his house which I have built for thy name:
Then hear from heaven thy dwelling place, their supplication and prayers and judge their cause, and be merciful unto thy people, though they have sinned against thee.
And now up LORD God in thy resting place: both thou and the Ark of thy strength, and let thy priests put on victory and thy saints rejoice in goodness.
And when Salomon had made an end of praying, there came down fire from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices. And the glory of the LORD filled the house:
And all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down and the glory of the LORD upon the house, and stooped with their faces to the earth upon the pavement and bowed themselves and confessed unto the LORD, that he was good and that his mercy lasted ever.
So that king Salomon offered twenty two thousand oxen, and an hundredth and twenty thousand sheep. And so the king and all the people hallowed the house of God.
And the priests waited on their offices, and the Levites with instruments of music of the LORD which king David made to confess unto the LORD that his mercy lasteth ever, when David gave praise thorow their hands. And the priests blew trumpets fast by them: and all Israel stood.
Moreover Salomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the LORD: for there he offered burntofferings and the fat of the peaceofferings, because the brazen altar which Salomon had made, was not able to receive the burntofferings and the meat offerings and the fat.
And Salomon kept a feast the same season of seven days, and all Israel with him, an exceeding great congregation, even from Hemath unto the river of Egypt.
And the twenty third day of the seventh month, he let the people depart unto their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed to David, to Salomon and to Israel his people.
And so Salomon finished the house of the LORD and the king's house and all that came in his heart to make in the house of the LORD and in his own house, and that prosperously.
And the LORD appeared to Salomon by night and said to him: I have heard thy petition and have chosen this place for myself to be an house of sacrifice.
yet if my people that are named after my name, shall humble themselves and make intercession and seek my presence, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and be merciful to their sins, and will heal their land.
And if thou shalt walk before me as David thy father walked, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe mine ordinances and my laws:
then I will stablish the seat of thy kingdom, according to the covenant I made with David thy father, saying: thou shalt have ever one or other that shall rule in Israel.
But and if ye turn away and forsake mine ordinances and my commandments which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods and bow yourselves to them:
then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them, and will cast this house which I have sanctified for my name out of my sight, and will make a proverb and a tale of it among all nations.
And this house that is so high, shall be a wonder to all that passeth thereby that they shall say: why hath the LORD dealt on this fashion with this land and with this house?
And it shall be answered then, because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and caught hold on other gods, and bowed to them and served them: even therefore brought he on them all this evil.
And Baalath and all the store cities that Salomon had, and all the chariot cities and the cities of Horsemen, and all that Salomon had lust to build in Jerusalem and Libanon, and thorowout all the land of his dominion.
even the children of them, which were left after them in the land, and were not consumed of the children of Israel, them did Salomon make tributaries unto this day.
But of the children of Israel did Salomon make no bondmen in his work: but they were men of war and rulers and great lords with him, and captains over his chariots and Horsemen.
And Salomon brought the daughter of Pharao out of the city of David into the house that he had made for her. For he said: my wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, for it is holy, because the Ark of the LORD came into it.
to offer day by day according to the commandment of Moses, and in the Sabbaths and new moons, and the three solempne feasts of the year, the feast of sweetbread, the feast of weeks and the feast of booths.
And Salomon put the sorts of priests in companies as David his father had ordered them, unto the offices, and the Levites unto their wait, for to praise and minister before the priests day by day, and the porters by course at every gate. For so had David the man of God commanded.
And all the work of Salomon went lustely forward even unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid: and from thence till he had finished it, that the house of the LORD was perfect.
And Hiram sent him by the hand of his servants, ships and servants that could skill of the sea: Which went with the servants of Salomon to Ophir, and brought thence four hundredth and fifty talents of gold, and brought it to king Salomon.
And the queen of Saba heard of the fame of Salomon and came to prove him with riddles at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and with camels that bare sweet odours and plenty of gold and precious stone. And when she was come to Salomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
and the meat of his table and the sitting of his servants and the standing of his waiters, and their apparel, and his butlers with their apparel, and his parlor out of which he went into the house of the LORD, there was no more heart in her.
But I believed not the words of them, until I came and mine eyes had seen it. And see, the one half of thy wisdom was not told me: thou exceedest the same that I heard,
Blessed be the LORD thy God which had lust to thee, to make thee king on his seat, unto the LORD thy God. Because thy God loved Israel, to make them continue ever, therefore made he the king over them to do right and equity.
And she gave the king an hundredth and twenty talents of gold, and of sweet odours an exceeding great abundance with precious stones, that there was no such sweet odours as the queen of Saba, gave king Salomon.
And the king made of the Algume wood stairs for the house of the LORD and in the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers. And there was no such wood seen before in the land of Juda.
And king Salomon gave to the queen of Saba all her desire that she asked above that she brought unto the king. And so she turned and went away unto her own land with her servants.
And there were six steps to the seat with a footstool of gold fastened to the seat: and pommels on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the pommels.
And all the drinking vessels of king Salomon were gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Libanon, were pure gold. And as for silver, it was counted nothing worth in the days of Salomon.
For the king's ships went to Tharsis with the servants of Hiram every three years once. And the ships of Tharsis brought gold, silver, the teeth of elephants, apes and peacocks.
And Salomon had four thousand mangers of horses and chariots for them, and twelve thousand horsemen. And he bestowed them in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.
And the rest of the acts of king Salomon both first and last are written in the book of Nathan the Prophet and in the prophecy of Ahiah the Silonite and in the visions of Jadi the sear of visions against Jeroboam the son of Nabat.
Thy father made us a grievous yoke: but remit thou somewhat of the grievous service of thy father and of his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
And king Rehoboam counselled with elders that stood before Salomon his father, while he lived, and said: what counsel give ye me, to answer this people again?
And they told him saying: if thou shalt be kind to this people and please them and shalt speak loving words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.
and said to them: what advice give ye that I may answer this people which have communed with me saying: Abate somewhat of the yoke which thy father did put upon us.
And the young men that were nursed up with him talked with him saying: thus answer the people that spake to thee saying: Thy father made our yoke heavy: But make thou our yoke somewhat lighter. Thus wise answer them: my little finger shall be heavier than thy father's loins.
For where my father put a heavy yoke upon you I will put more thereto, and where my father chastised you with whips I will chastise you with scorpions.
and answered them after the advice of the young men saying: If my father made your yoke grievous, I will add thereto, and where my father chastised you with whips, I will chastise you with scorpions.
And so the king hearkened not unto the people, for the turning away was of God, that the LORD might make good his saying which he spake by the hand of Ahiah the Silonite to Jeroboam the son of Nabat.
And when all Israel saw that the king would not hear them, the people answered the king saying: what part have we with David or inheritance with the son of Isai? let every man of Israel go to his tent. And now David see to thine own house. And thereupon all Israel gat them to their tents,
Then king Rehoboam sent to them Haburam that was over the tribute, and the children of Israel stoned him with stones that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed and gat him up in his chariot to fly to Jerusalem.
And when Rehobam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of David and Benjamin to the number of nine score thousand choice men of war to fight with Israel, for to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.
thus sayeth the LORD. Go not nor fight with your brethren: But 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.
Insomuch that the Levites left their Suburbs and possessions and came to Juda and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them out from ministering unto the LORD.
And after them there came of all the tribes of Israel (such as their hearts moved them to seek the LORD God of Israel) to Jerusalem to offer unto the LORD God of their fathers.
And so they strengthe the kingdom of Juda and made Rehoboam the son of Salomon mighty three year long, for three year they walked in the way of David and Salomon.
But Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and concubines for he took eighteen wives and three score concubines, and begat three score daughters and twenty eight sons.
And he played wisely and scattered of all his children thorowout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin in every strong city. And he gave them abundance of vitailles, and asked many wives.
with twelve hundredth chariots and three score thousand horsemen. And the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt, with them of Libia, and the Succhites and the blackmoors.
Then came Semeiah the Prophet to Rehoboam and to the lords of Juda that were gathered to Jerusalem for fear of Sesak, and said to them: thus sayeth the LORD, ye have left me, and therefore will I leave you also in the hands of Sesak.
And when the LORD saw that they submitted themselves, the word of the LORD came to Semeiah saying: they meek themselves, and therefore I will not destroy them. But I will deliver them somewhat, and my wrath shall not fall upon Jerusalem.
And Sesak king of Egypt came to Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and shortly he took all. And he took also the shields of gold which Salomon made.
Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and put them in the keeping of the captains of his guard which waited in the gate of the king's house.
And so because he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, and destroyed not all together. And thereto there were many good things yet in Juda.
And king Rehoboam waxed mighty in Jerusalem and reigned. And Rehoboam was forty one year old when he was made king, and he reigned seventeen year 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 Ammonite.
The acts of Rehoboam first and last are written in the sayings of Semeiah the Prophet and of Ado the sear of visions, so much as his genealogy and the perpetual war that was between Rehoboam and Jeroboam during their life.
And Abiah made a battle with an Host of fighting men of four hundredth thousand chosen men. And Jeroboam put in array to fight against him, with eight hundredth thousand picked men and strong.
Becometh it not you to know how the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom of Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons, with a salted covenant.
And there gathered to him lewd men and unthrifties, and prevailed against Rehoboam the son of Salomon: for Rehoboam was young and tender hearted and not strong enough for them.
And now ye think to prevail against the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David, because ye be a great multitude and have with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods.
And have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests like the nations of other lands: even whosoever cometh and filleth his hand with an ox and seven rams, the same is made priest to them that are no Gods.
burning unto the LORD every morning and every evening burntofferings and sweet cense: and the shewbread put in order upon a pure table: and the candlestick of gold with the lamps of the same, to be lighted every evening. For we keep the watch of the LORD our God: but ye have forsaken him.
Moreover see, God is with us in the foreward, and his priests, and the roaring trumpets to cry alarum against you. Ye children of Israel fight not with the LORD God of your fathers: for it will not prosper with you.
And so the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Juda prevailed: because they leaned unto the LORD God of their fathers.
And Abiah followed after Jeroboam and won certain cities from him: Bethel with the towns belonging thereto, and Jesanah with the towns that longed thereto, and Ephron with her towns.
And when Abiah was laid to sleep with his fathers, they buried him in the city of David, and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In whose days the land was quiet ten years.
And therefore he said to Juda: let us build these cities and compass them with walls and towers, gates and bars, while we have the land quiet. For we have fought the LORD our God: and because we have fought him, he hath given us rest on every side. And so they built and prospered.
And Asa had an Army that bare shield and spear, out of Juda three hundredth thousand, and out of Benjamin that bare shield and drew bows two hundredth and eighty thousand, and were all strong men.
And Asa cried unto the LORD his God and said: LORD, it is all one with thee to help them that have no power, with few or with many: help us O LORD our God, for we trust to thee, and in thine name be come against this multitude. Thou art the LORD our God; let not man prevail against thee.
And Asa and the people that was with him, followed after them as far as Gerar. And the black Moors were overthrown, that there bode none alive of them, but were destroyed of the LORD and of his Host. And they carried away a mighty great prey.
And they smote all the cities round about Gerar. For the fear of the LORD came upon them. And they robbed all the cities for there was exceeding much to be robbed in them.
And he went out against Asa and said to him: hear me Asa and all Juda and Benjamin. The LORD is with you, while ye be with him, and if ye shall seek him, he will be found of you: but and if ye shall forsake him, he will forsake you.
When Asa heard those words and the prophecy of Azariah the son of Obed the Prophet, he took courage and put away the abominations out of all the land of Juda and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he won in mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD that was before the porch of the LORD.
And he gathered all Juda and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim, Manasse and Simeon. For there fell many to him out of Israel, when they saw that GOD was with him.
And all Juda rejoiced in the oath, for they had sworn with all their hearts, and sought him with all their lust, and he was found of them. And the LORD gave them rest round about.
And thereto king Asa put Maacah his mother out of authority, because she had made an idol in a grove: and brake down her idol and stamped it and burnt it by the brook Cedron.
In the thirty sixth year of the reign of Asa, came Baasa king of Israel against Juda and built Ramah, to the intent that he would let none that pertained to Asa king of Juda, have passage in and out.
Whereupon Asa fetched out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent it to Benhadad king of Siria, that dwelt at Damasco, and said:
There is a confederation between me and thee, and so was between my father and thine, wherefore I have sent thee silver and gold, that thou go and break thine appointment with Baasa king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
And Benhadad granted unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his army against the cities of Israel. And they beat Aion, Dan, Abelmaim and all the store cities of Nephthali.
And then Asa the king took all Juda and carried away and stones and timber of Ramah wherewith Baasa was abuilding: and he built therewith Gabaa and Mazphah.
At that same time Hanani the sear, came to Asa king of Juda and said to him: because thou trustedest in the king of Siria, and trustest not in the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Siria escaped out of thine hand.
Were not the black Moors and they of Libia a great host with exceeding many chariots and horsemen? And yet because thou trustedest in the LORD, he delivered them into thine hands.
For the eyes of the LORD behold all the earth, to strength the hearts of them that are whole with him. Herein thou hast done foolishly, and therefore from henceforth thou shalt have war.
Whereupon Asa was wroth with the sear and put him in the converting house, for he was displeased with him because of that. Moreover Asa oppressed certain of the people the same season.
And the thirty ninth year of his reign Asa fell sick of his feet, and that his disease exceeded. And thereto in his sickness he asked no counsel of the LORD, but of Physicians.
And they buried him in his own sepulchre which he had made in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which he had filled with sweet odours of divers kinds, made by the craft of the apothecaries. And they did exceeding great cost about burying of him.
And he put soldiers in all the strong cities of Juda, and set rulers both in the land of Juda and also in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had won.
and with them Semeiah, Nathaniah, Zabadiah, Asahel, Semiramoth, Jehonathan, Adoniah, Thobiah and Thobodoniah Levites: and with them Elisama and Joram priests.
And the Philistines brought Jehosaphat gifts and tribute silver. And thereto the Arabians brought him of sheep, seven thousand and seven hundredth rams, and seven thousand and seven hundredth he goats.
And this is the order in the houses of their fathers, of the captains over thousands in Juda: Ednah the captain and with him of fighting men three hundredth thousand.
And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab slew sheep and oxen plenteously for him and for the people that came with him, and entreated him to go up unto Ramoth in Gilead.
And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehosaphat king of Juda: wilt thou go with me to Ramoth in Gilead? And he answered him, I will be as thou, and my people shall be as thine and we will be with thee in the war.
And the king of Israel gathered together of the Prophets four hundredth men, and said unto them: shall we go to Ramoth in Gilead to fight, or shall I cease? And they said, go: the Lord|God| shall deliver it into the king's hand.
And the king of Israel said to Jehosaphat, there is yet one, to ask the LORD by him: But I hate him, for he never prophesieth me good, but alway evil, one Micheah the son of Jemla. And Jehosaphat said: let not the king say so.
And the king of Israel and Jehosaphat king of Juda sat either of them on his seat in their apparel, in a threshing floor beside the gate of Samaria, and all the Prophets prophesying before them.
And one Zedekiah the son of Chananah made him horns of iron and said, thus sayeth the LORD: with these thou shalt winnow Siria until thou hast brought them to naught.
And the messenger that went to call Micheah, spake to him saying: behold, the words of the Prophets are pleasant to the king with one assent, let thy words I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak that which is pleasant.
And when he was come to the king, the king said to him: Micheah, shall we go to Ramoth in Gilead to fight, or shall I be in rest? And he answered: go ye and prosper, for the Lord|God| shall deliver it into your hands.
Then he said: I see all Israel scattered in the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said: these have no master, let them return every man to his house in peace.
And he answered: therefore hear ye the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sit upon his seat, and all the company of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.
And the LORD said: who shall deceive Ahab king of Israel, that he may go and be overthrown at Ramoth in Gilead. And while one said thus and another that,
And he said: I will go out and will be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets. And the LORD said, thou shalt deceive him and shalt prevail, go out and do even so.
And Zedekiah the son of Chananah, went to and smote Micheah upon the cheek, and said: by what way went the spirit of the LORD from me, to speak in thee?
Then said the king of Israel to Jehosaphat: change thee and get thee to battle, but see thou have thine own apparel upon thee. And the king of Israel changed himself, and they went to battle.
But the king of Siria commanded the captains of his chariots saying: see that ye fight not against small or great, save against the king of Israel onely.
And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehosaphat, they had wente he had been the king of Israel, and therefore compassed about him, to fight. But Jehosaphat cried out, and the LORD holp him, and God tysed them away from him.
And a certain man drew his bow ignorantly and smote the king of Israel between the Joints of his habergeon. And he said to the chariot man, turn thine hand and carry me out of the host, for I am hurt.
And the battle arose that day. Howbeit the king of Israel continued standing in his chariot against the Sirians until evening. And about the son going down he died.
And Jehu the son of Hanani the sear, went out against him and said to king Jehosaphat: oughtest thou to help the wicked, and to love them that hate the LORD. In this verily is the wrath of the LORD upon thee.
And as Jehosaphat dwelt at Jerusalem, he went to again and went among the people from Bersabe to mount Ephraim, and brought them again unto the LORD God of their fathers.
Wherefore let the fear of the LORD be with you, and take heed and do it. For there is no unrighteousness in the LORD our God nor regarding of persons, nor taking of rewards.
Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehosaphat set of the Levites and of the priests and of the ancient heads of Israel, over the customs of the LORD and causes of strife. And then they returned again to Jerusalem.
And whatsoever come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, law, commandment, ordinances and customs: see that ye warn them, that they trespass not against the LORD, lest wrath come upon you and on your brethren. Thus do and ye shall not offend.
And see here Amariah the priest which is head over you in all matters of the LORD, and Zabadiah the son of Ismael a ruler in the house of Juda, he is over all causes concerning the king, with officers of the Levites before you. Take courage to you and go upon it, and the LORD shall be with the good.
And there came that told Jeshosaphat saying: there cometh a great multitude against thee from the other side the sea out of Siria. And see they be in Hasason Thamar which is Engadi.
and said: LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven, and reignest not thou on all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in thine hand is power and might, that no man can stand before thee.
Art not thou our God which didst cast out the inhabiters of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy lover for ever?
when evil cometh upon us, as the sword of judgement, pestilence or hunger: then if we stand before this house and before thee (for thy name is in this house) and shall cry unto thee in our tribulation, thou shalt hear and help.
And now behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, by which thou wouldest not let Israel go, when they came out of Egypt: but they departed from them and destroyed them not.
O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us. Neither wot we what to do: but our eyes be unto thee.
the spirit of the LORD came upon Jahasiel the son of Zachariah the son of Banaiah the son of Jeiel the son of Mathaniah a Levite of the sons of Asaph, even as he was in the midst of the congregation.
And he said: hearken all Juda and the inhabiters of Jerusalem, and also king Jehosaphat. Thus sayeth the LORD unto you: be not afeard or faint hearted by reason of this great multitude. For the war is not yours, but God's.
Moreover it belongeth not to you for to fight this quarrel: but step forth and stand and behold the help of the LORD which is with you: fear not, nor let your heart fail you, O ye of Juda and of Jerusalem. Tomorrow go out to them: for the LORD is with you.
And Jehosaphat bowed himself with his face to the city, and all Juda and the inhabiters of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, to bow themselves unto the LORD.
And so they arose early in the morning and gat them out unto the wilderness of Thekua. And as they went out Jehosaphat stood and said: hear me Juda and the inhabiters of Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and so shall ye continue: and believe his prophets and so shall ye prosper.
And he gave the people counsel, and set the singers of the LORD and them that praised in holy apparel, to go out before the army and to say: praise the LORD for his mercy lasteth ever.
And when Juda came to Mazphah in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude. And behold, they were dead carcasses fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
And Jehosaphat and his people went to rob away the spoil of them and found among them abundance of goods and raiment and of pleasant Jewels, and caught from them more than they could carry away: so that they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.
And the fourth day they assembled in the valley of blessing, for there they blessed the LORD. And therefore they called the name of the said place the valley of blessing unto this day.
And so all the men of Juda and Jerusalem returned and Jehosaphat among the thickest of them, for to go again to Jerusalem with gladness: for the LORD had made them to rejoice of their enemies.
And Jehosaphat reigned upon Juda, and was thirty five year old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty five year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Asuba the daughter of Silhi.
The rest of the acts of Jehosaphat first and last are written in the works of Jehu the son of Hanani, which noted them in the book of the kings of Israel.
And Elieser the son of Dodanah of Maresa prophesied against Jehosaphat: saying: because thou hast joined thyself with Ohoziah the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken that they were not able to go to Tharsis.
which Jehoram had other brethren, sons of Jehosaphat, Asariah, Jehiel, Zachariah, Asariah, Michael and Sephatia. All these were the sons of Jehosapaht king of Juda.
And their father gave them many great gifts in silver, gold and other precious things with strong cities in Juda: but the kingdom he gave to Jehoram, because he was the eldest.
And when Jehoram was up upon the kingdom of his father and settled, he slew all his other brethren with the sword, and divers of the lords of Israel thereto.
And he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab (for a daughter of Ahab was his wife) and he wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD.
Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.
And Jehoram went forth with his lords and all his chariots with him and rose by night and laid on the Edomites. Which compassed him in and the captains of his chariots.
And so Edom departed from under the hand of Juda unto this day. That same time also did lobnah depart from under his power, because he left the LORD God of his fathers.
And there came a writing to him from Eliah the prophet of this tenor. Thus sayeth the LORD God of David thy father: because thou walkedst not in the ways of Jehosaphat thy father and in the ways of Asa king of Juda,
but walkedst in the ways of Asa king of Israel and hast made Juda and the dwellers of Jerusalem go awhoring, like to the whoring of the house of Ahab, and hast thereto slain thy brethren that were thy father's house, which were better than thou:
Which came against Juda and all to tare the land, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and thereto his sons and his wives: so that there was never a son left him save Jehoahaz his youngest son.
And in process of time, even about the end of two year, his guts fell out by reason of his sickness: and so he died of evil diseases. But they made him no bonfire, like the bonfires of his fathers.
When he began to reign, he was twenty seven year old, and reigned in Jerusalem eight years. And he walked not pleasantly and they buried him in the city of David: but not in the sepulchre of the kings.
And the inhabiters of Jerusalem made Ohoziah his youngest son king in his stead. For the men of war that came with the Arabians in the host, had slain all his elder sons. And so Ohoziah the son of Jehoram king of Juda, was made king.
Two and forty year old was he when he began to reign, and reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah the daughter of Amri.(Septuagint: Ochozias began to reign when he was twenty years old, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Gotholia, the daughter of Ambri. Note: 2 Kings 8:26)
And he also walked after their counsel. And Jehoram son of Ahab king of Israel went to fight with Hazael king of Siria at Ramoth in Gilead: and they of Ramoth wounded him.
Wherefore he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which were given him at Ramoth, when he fought with Hazael king of Siria. And Ohoziah the son of Jeroam king of Juda went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was diseased.
For it was thrust into Ohoziah of God to go to Jehoram, and that when he was come, he should go out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Namsi whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.
And as Jehu was executing justice upon the house of Ahab. He found the lords of Juda and the sons of the brethren of Ohoziah that waited on Ohoziah, and he slew them.
And he sought Ohoziah, and they caught him where he was hid in Samaria, and brought him to Jehu. And when they had slain him they buried him: because (said they) he was the son of Jehosaphat which sought the LORD with all his heart. And there was none of the house of Ohoziah that could obtain to be king.
But Jehosabeath the daughter of the king took Jehoas the son of Ohoziah and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a sleeping chamber. And so Jehosabeath the daughter of king Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest (because she was the sister of Ohoziah) hid him from Athaliah that she slew him not.
And in the seventh year Jehoiada took heart, and made a bond with the captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jehoram, Ismael the son of Johanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaciah the son of Adaiah and Elisaphat the son of Zechri.
And all the congregation made a bond with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada said to them: behold, the king's son must reign over the children of David, as the LORD hath said.
and another third part shall be in the king's house and another third part shall be in the gate of the foundation, and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.
And there shall none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests and the Levites that minister. They shall go in, for they are holy: and all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD.
And the Levites shall compass the king round about, and every man his weapon in his hand: and whatsoever other man come into the house of the Lord, he shall die for it, and they shall be with the king, as he cometh in and as he goeth out.
And the Levites and all Juda did in all things as Jehoiada the priest commanded, and took every man his men: both them that came in and them that went out the Sabbath day: for Jehoiada the priest did let none of the companies depart.
And Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears and shields and bucklers that pertained to king David and were in the house of God.
And he set all the people and every man his weapon in his hand, from the right corner of the house to the left corner of the house, along by the altar and the house round about the king.
And they brought out the king's son and put upon him the crown and the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said: God save the king.
And when she saw the king stand at his pillar in the entering, and the lords and trumpets about the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing with trumpets, and the singers with instruments of music teaching to praise. Then she rent her clothes and cried: treason, treason.
And Jehoiada the priest went out with the captains of hundreds that were appointed to govern the host and said to them: have her out without the arrays and whosoever followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said: slay her not in the house of the LORD.
And all the people went to the house of Baal and destroyed it, and brake his altars and his images, and slew Mathan the priest of Baal before the altars.
And Jehoiada put the offices of the house of the LORD in the hands of the priests the Levites, which David had divided in companies for the house of the LORD, to offer burntofferings unto the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and singing, as it was ordained by David.
And he took the captains of hundreds and the nobles, and the governors of the people and all the folk of the land, and brought the king down out of the house of the LORD, and they went thorow the high gate in the king's house, and set the king upon the seat of the kingdom.
And upon that he gathered together the priests and the Levites and said to them: go out thorow the cities of Juda and gather of all Israel silver, to strength the house of your God, year by year, and see that ye haste the thing: howbeit the Levites were slack.
Then the king called Jehoiada that was the chiefest, and said to him: Why requirest thou not of the Levites to bring in, out of Juda and Jerusalem the sum appointed by Moses the servant of the LORD, and by the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness.
For wicked Athaliah and her children had broken the house of God, and had thereto bestowed all the dedicate gifts of the house of the LORD, about Baals.
and made proclamation thorow Juda and Jerusalem to bring in to the LORD the taxation of Moses the servant of God, which he set upon Israel in the wilderness.
And when the time came that the chest should be brought in by the hands of the Levites at the appointment of the king, when they saw that there was much money: then came the king's scribe and one appointed by the high priest, and poured out that was in the coffer, and then took it and carried it to his place again, and thus they did day by day, and gathered much money.
And the king and Jehoiada gave it to workmen that wrought upon the house of the LORD, and hired Masons and carpenters to redress the house of the LORD, and so did they artificers in iron and brass, to repair the house of the LORD.
And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, and therewith were made vessels for the house of the LORD: even vessels to minister withal and to serve for burntofferings as ladies and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burntofferings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.
And so they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and Images. And then came there wrath upon Juda and Jerusalem, for this their trespasses' sake.
And the spirit of God came upon Zachariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stepped up above the people and said to them. Thus sayeth God: why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD? ye shall therefore not prosper, but as ye have forsaken him, so shall he forsake you.
And so Jehoas 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 see and require a reckoning.
And when the year was out, the host of the Sirians came against him: and they came to Juda and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the lords of the people from among the people and sent all the spoil of them unto the king to Damasco.
And though the army of Siria came with a small company of men, yet the LORD delivered a very great host into their hands, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. And thereto they served Jehoas according.
And as soon as they were departed from him, though they left him in great diseases: yet his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the children of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed. And when he was dead, they buried him in the city of David: but not in the sepulchers of the kings.
And his sons and the sum of the tax that came to him, and the foundation of the house of God, are written in the story of the book of kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.
But he slew not their children as it is written in the law, even in the book of Moses to whom the LORD commanded saying: the fathers shall not die for the children's causes, nor the children for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.
And Amaziah gathered Juda together and made captains over thousands and over hundreds in the houses of their fathers thorowout all Juda and Benjamin. And he numbered them from twenty year and above, and found them three hundredth thousand lusty men able to go to battle, and that could handle spear and shield.
But there came a man of God to him and said: king, let not the army of Israel go with thee: for the LORD is not with Israel neither with any of the house of Ephraim.
Or else if thou needs wilt, then go and do it, and make thyself strong to battle: and thou shalt see, that God shall make thee fall before thine enemies. For God hath power to help or to cast down.
And Amaziah said again to the man of God, what shall we do then, for the hundredth talents which I have given unto the host of Israel? And the man of God said: the LORD is able to give thee much more than that.
And then Amaziah severed that army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again. Wherefore they were exceeding wroth with Juda, and returned to their own home in great anger.
And other ten thousand the children of Juda took alive, and carried them unto the top of a rock and cast them down from the top of the rock that they all to burst:
but the men of the army which Amaziah had turned back and would not let go with his people to battle, ran upon the cities of Juda from Samaria unto Bethhoron and slew three thousand of them and won much spoil.
And it chanced, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, and had brought the gods of the children of Seir, he set them up to be his gods, and bowed himself before them and burned cense unto them.
Wherefore the LORD was wroth with Amaziah and sent to him a prophet, and said to him: why seekest thou the gods of the people which were not able to deliver their own people out of thine hands?
And as the prophet spake to him, he said to the prophet: have men made thee of the king's counsel? cease, lest thou be beaten. And the prophet ceased and said: I am sure that God hath taken counsel to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and obeyest not my counsel.
And Joas king of Israel sent again to Amaziah king of Juda saying: a thistle in Libanon sent to a Cedar tree of Libanon saying: give thy daughter to my son to wife. But there came the wild beasts of Libanon and trod down the thistle.
Thou thinkest: see, I have beaten the Edomites, therefore thine heart ariseth to glorify thyself. Now bide at home: what needeth thee to provoke to evil, that thou perish and Juda with thee.
But Amaziah rested not: for it came of God, even to deliver them into the hands of their enemies: and that because they had sought the gods of the Edomites.
And Joas king of Israel took Amaziah king of Juda the son of Jehoas the son of Ohoziah at Bethsames: and brought him to Jerusalem, and tare the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundredth cubits long.
And he took all the gold and silver and all the Jewels that were found in the house of God with Obed Edom and the treasure of the king's house and hostages, and returned to Samaria.
And after that time that Amaziah did turn away from the LORD, they conspired treason against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachis. Whither they sent after him and slew him there,
And he went to battle against the Philistines and brake down the walls of Geth, and the walls of Jabneh and the walls of Asdod, and built cities about Asdod and among the Philistines.
And he built towers in the wilderness and digged many wells. For he had much cattle, both in the valley and also in the plain: and plowmen and vinedressers in the mountains and in Carmel, for he loved husbandry.
And Oziah had an host of fighting men that went out to war in the army and were told and numbered by Jeiel the scribe and Maasiah an officer, under the hand of Hananiah one of the king's lords.
and under the hands of them was the army of the host, three hundredth and seven thousand, and five hundredth that made war with might and strength, to help the king against his enemies.
And he made engines in Jerusalem by the craft of artificers to be on the towers and corners, to shoot arrows and great stones with all. And his name spread far abroad, for he was wonderfully holp, until he was become mighty.
And in his greatness his heart arose, that he was marred: and transgressed against the LORD his God. For he went into the temple of the LORD to burn cense upon the altar of incense.
And they stepped to Oziah the king and said to him: it pertaineth not to thee Oziah to burn cense unto the LORD, but to the priests the children of Aaron that are consecrate for to burn incense. Come out of the sanctuary, for thou hast trespassed, and it shall be no worship to thee before the LORD God.
And Oziah was wroth and had cense in his hand to offer, and in his indignation against the priest, the leprosy sprang in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, even beside the incense altar.
And Asariah the chief priest with all the other priests looked upon him: and behold he was a leper in his forehead, and they vexed him thence. And thereto he was fain to go out, because the LORD had plagued him.
And Oziah the king continued a leper unto the day of his death and dwelt in an house at liberty: how be it, he was cast out of the house of the LORD. And Joatham his son had the governance of the king's house and judged the people of the land.
And when Oziah was laid to rest with his fathers, they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial of the kings. For they said: he is a leper. And Joatham his son reigned in his stead.
And he did that pleased the LORD in all points as did his father Oziah: save, that he came not to the temple of the LORD, and that the people did yet corrupt themselves.
And he fought with the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundredth talents of silver, and ten thousand quarters of wheat and as much barley. So much also did the children of Ammon give him the second year and the third too.
And he offered cense in the valley of the children of Hennon, and burnt his children in fire after the abomination of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of the Sirians: which beat him and carried away a great multitude of his captive into Damasco. And thereto he was delivered into the hand of the king of Israel which slew of his a mighty slaughter.
For Phakeh the son of Romeliah slew in Juda an hundredth and twenty thousand in one day, and all fighting men: and that because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.
And the children of Israel took prisoners of their brethren two hundredth thousand wives, sons and daughters, and thereto carried away much spoil of them, and brought it to Samaria.
But there was a prophet of the LORD's named Obed which went out to the host which came to Samaria and said to them: see, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Juda, he delivered them into your hands. And ye have slain them with cruelness that reacheth up to heaven.
And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Juda and Jerusalem and to make them bondmen and bondwomen. What other thing do ye (ye unhappy) than offend the LORD your God.
And certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, as Asariah the son of Johanan, Barachiah the son of Mesimeloth, Jehezekiah the son of Selum and Amasa the son of Hadalai stood up against them that came from war,
and said unto them: ye shall not bring in the captives hither. For where we have offended the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and trespass. For our trespass is great already, and there is fierce wrath upon Israel:
And there arose certain appointed thereto by name, and took the prisoners and clothed all that were naked among them, of the spoil, and arrayed them and shoed them and gave them to eat and to drink and anointed them, and carried all that were feeble of them upon asses and brought them to Jericho the city of Paulme trees fast by their brethren: and then returned to Samaria again.
And the Philistines invaded the cities in the low country and the south of Juda: and took Bethsames, Aialon, Gaderoth and Socoh with the towns longing thereto, and Thimna with the towns of the same, and Gimso with her towns, and dwelt therein.
For Ahaz took away out of the house of the LORD and out of the king's house and out of the Lord's houses, and gave unto the king of Assur, though it holp him not.
For he offered unto the gods of them of Damasco which beat him and said, because the gods of the Sirians help them, therefore will I offer to them, that they may help me also. But they were his destruction and the destruction of all Israel.
And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God and brake them, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and made him altars in all corners of Jerusalem.
And when Ahaz was laid to rest with his fathers, they buried him in the city of Jerusalem: but brought him not unto the sepulchers of the kings of Juda. And Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty five year old, and reigned twenty nine year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abiah the daughter of Zachariah.
and said unto them. Hear me ye Levites: purify yourselves and hallow the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and bring out the filthiness out of the holy place.
For our fathers have trespassed and done evil favouredly in the eyes of the LORD our God: and have forsaken him, and turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD and turned to their backs.
And beside that they have shut up the doors of the porch and quenched the lamps and have neither burned cense nor offered burntofferings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.
Wherefore the wrath of the LORD fell on Juda and Jerusalem: and he scattered them and made them so thin that men hiss at it, even as ye see with your eyes.
Then the Levites arose: Nahath the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Asariah being of the children of the Cahathites: and the sons of Merari, Kis the son of Abdi and Asariah the son of Jehaleleel: and of the Gersonites, Joah the son of Simma and Eden the son of Joah:
And they gathered their brethren and purified themselves, and then went at the commandment of the king by the word of the LORD, for to cleanse the house of the LORD.
And the priests went into the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD, and in the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it and carried it out into the brook Cedron.
They began the first day of the first month to purify, and came the eighth day to the porch of the LORD: so that they had purged the house of the LORD in eight days in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.
And then they went into Hezekiah the king and said: we have cleansed all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burntofferings with all his vessels, and the shewbread table with all his apparel:
and thereto all the vessels which king Ahaz did cast aside when he reigned and transgressed, them we have repaired and sanctified: and see, they are before the altar of the LORD.
And there were brought seven oxen, seven rams, seven lambs and seven kids to be a sinoffering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary and for Juda. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the LORD.
And they slew the oxen: and the priests received the blood and sprinkled it on the altar: and they slew the rams and sprinkled the blood upon the altar: and they slew the lambs and sprinkled the blood upon the altar.
And the priests slew them and offered the blood of them upon the altar, to make satisfaction for all Israel: for the king said: that the burntoffering and the sinoffering should serve for all Israel.
And they set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, psalteries and harps according to the commandments of David and of Gad the king's sear of visions and of Nathan the prophet. For so was the commandment of the LORD thorow the hand of his prophets.
And Hezekaih commanded to offer the burntoffering upon the altar. And when the burntoffering began, the song of the LORD began, and the trumpets with the instruments of David king of Israel.
And Hezekiah the king and the lords bade the Levites to praise the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the sear of visions. And the Levites praised that they rejoiced again, and the other stooped and bowed themselves.
And Hezekiah answered and said: now that ye have filled your hands to the LORD, go to and bring in the sacrifices and thankofferings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in the sacrifices and thankofferings, and all that were willing brought burntofferings.
And the number of the burntofferings which the congregation brought in was seventy oxen and an hundredth rams and two hundredth lambs: and all for burntofferings to the LORD.
But the priests were too few, and were not able to slay all the burntofferings. Wherefore their brethren the Levites holp them till the work was ended, and until the priests were sanctified. For the Levites were purer hearted to sanctify themselves then the priests.
And thereto the burntofferings were many with the fat of the peaceofferings and the drinkofferings that belonged to the burntofferings. And so the service pertaining to the house of the LORD went forward.
And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Juda: and thereto wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to offer passover unto the LORD God of Israel.
And they decreed that it should be proclaimed thorowout all Israel from Bersabe to Dan, that they should come and hold the feast of the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not often done it, as it is written how they should.
And the messengers went with letters of the hand of the king and of his lords thorowout all Israel and Juda, at the commandment of the king which said: children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and so will he turn to the remnant of you that are escaped out of the hands of the king of Assur.
And be ye not like your fathers and your brethren which trespassed against the LORD of your fathers, which therefore gave them up that they are wasted as ye see.
Wherefore be not stiff necked like unto your fathers, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and come to his holy place which he hath sanctified for ever, and serve the LORD your God, that his wrath may turn from you.
For if ye turn unto the LORD, then your brethren and your children shall find compassion in the presence of them that hold them captive, that they may come again unto this land: for the LORD your God is full of mercy and compassion, and will not turn his face from you, if ye turn again to him.
And thereto the hand of God was in Juda, to make them of one accord to do the commandment of the king and the captains, which was according to the word of the LORD.
And they slew passover the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and Levites sanctified themselves for shame, and brought in the burntofferings into the house of the LORD.
And they stood in their standing after their manner according to the law of Moses the man of God. And the priests sprinkled the blood receiving it of the hands of the Levites.
And because there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: and therefore did the Levites slay passover for all that were not clean to sanctify them to the LORD.
There was very much people out of Ephraim, Manasseh, Isakar and Zabulon that were not clean, and therefore did eat passover otherwise than writing specifieth. But Hezekiah prayed for them and said:
the good LORD be merciful to all that set their hearts to seek the God that is the LORD God of their fathers, though they do it not according to the cleanness of the holy place.
And so the children of Israel that were found at Jerusalem, held the feast of sweet bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day with loud instruments.
And Hezekiah spake heartily unto the Levites that had good understanding of the LORD. And they did eat that feast seven days long and offered peaceofferings and thanked the LORD God of their fathers.
For Hezekiah king of Juda gave for heaveofferings to the congregation a thousand oxen and seven thousand sheep. And the lords gave to the congregation for heaveofferings a thousand oxen and ten thousand sheep. And the priests sanctified themselves, that they were enough.
And all the congregation of Juda with the priests and Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel and the strangers, both that came out of the land of Israel and that dwelt in Juda, rejoiced:
And when they had finished all this: then all Israel that were found in cities of Juda, went out and brake the Images and cut down the groves, and all to brake the hillaltars and the other altars thorowout all Juda and Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had made an end of them. And afterward all the children of Israel returned every man to his possession in their own cities.
And Hezekiah set the priests and the Levites in their order to wait by course, every man according to his office whether priest or Levite: for the burntofferings and peaceofferings, and to minister and to thank and to pray in the gates of the lodge of the LORD.
And the king gave a portion of his substance for burntofferings at morning and even, and for burntofferings on the Sabbath days and new moons and other solempne feasts, according as it is written in the law of the LORD.
And as soon as the word came abroad the children of Israel brought abundance of first fruits of corn, wine, oil and honey, and of all manner of fruits of the field: and the tithes of all manner of things brought they in plenteously.
And the children of Israel and Juda that dwelt in the cities of Juda, they also brought in the tithes of oxen and sheep, and tithes of dedicate things which were dedicated to the LORD their God, and put them on heaps.
And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadock answered him and said since they began to bring the heaveofferings into the house of the LORD, we have eaten and had enough, and yet left abundance, for the LORD hath blessed his people and thereof is this heap left.
and carried in the heaveofferings and the tithes and the dedicate gifts even of fidelity. Over which Chonaniah the Levite had the rule with Semei his brother next to him.
And Jehiel, Asariah, Nahath, Asael, Jerimoth, Josabad, Eliel, Jesmachiah, Mahath and Bananiah were overseers ordained by Chonaniah and Semei his brother, at the appointment of Hezekiah the king, and Asariah the ruler of the house of God.
And Chore the son of Jemma the Levite porter of the East door had the oversight of the freewill offerings of God, to give heaveofferings unto the LORD, and was over things most holy.
And under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jesua, Semeiah, Amariah and Secheniah, in the cities of the priests of their fidelity, to give to their brethren their portions, as well to the small as to the great.
And to the males also that were reckoned from three years and above among all that went into the house of the LORD day by day, to do service and to wait by course.
For to the fidelity of them did men commit their sanctified gifts. And thereto among the children of Aaron the priests were men named by name in the fields of the suburbs of all their cities, city by city, for to give portions to all the males of the priests and to all that were reckoned among the Levites.
And in all the works that he began in the service of the house of God, to seek his God after the law and commandment, that did he with all his heart, and prospered.
After these deeds and truth, Sennaherib king of Assur came and entered into Juda and pitched against the strong cities and thought to draw them to him.
And so there gathered much people together and stopped all the wells and the brook that ran thorow the midst of the land, intending that the kings of Assur should not find much water when they came?
And he went to lustily and built up the wall where it was broken, and made towers above upon, and yet another wall without, and repaired Mello the city of David, and made many darts and shields.
Pluck up your hearts and be strong: Be not afraid or in any wise discouraged for dread of the king of Assur, and of the great multitude that is with him: for there is one greater with us than with him.
With him is an arm of flesh: But with us is the LORD our God for to help us and to fight our battles. And the people were well couraged with the words of Hezekiah king of Juda.
After that Sennaherib king of Assur sent of his servants to Jerusalem (he himself lying before Lachis, and all his kingdom with him) unto Hezekiah king of Juda and unto all Juda that were at Jerusalem saying:
Is it not that Hezekiah that put down his hillaltars and his other altars, and commanded Juda and Jerusalem saying: before one altar ye shall bow yourselves and upon that offer also.
Moreover have ye not heard what I and my fathers have done unto the people of all lands? were the gods of the people of other lands able to save their lands out of my hand?
which of all the Gods of those nations that my fathers destroyed was it, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?
Wherefore now let not Hezekiah deceive you either persuade you of this fashion, nor yet believe him. For as no God among so many nations and kingdoms, was able to rid his people out of mine hand and the hands of my fathers: even so much less shall your God keep you out of mine hand.
And thereto he wrote a letter to rail on the LORD God of Israel and spake therein saying: as the gods of the nations|Heythen| of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, no more shall the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.
And they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the walls, to fear them and to dismay them, that they might have taken the city.
And the LORD sent an angel and destroyed all the men of war and the lords and captains of the host of the king of Assur, that he turned his face with shame towards his own land. And when he was come into the house of his God, he was there overthrown with the sword even by them that issued out of his bowels.
And so the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabiters at Jerusalem out of the hands of Sennaherib king of Assur and of all other, and maintained them on all sides.
In so much that many brought presents unto the LORD to Jerusalem and precious gifts to Hezekiah king of Juda: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
Notwithstanding Hezekiah meekened himself for the arising of his heart, both he and the inhabiters of Jerusalem. Wherefore the wrath of the LORD fell not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour. And he gathered him treasure of silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields and of all manner pleasant Jewels:
And the said Hezekiah stopped the upper water springs of Eihon and brought them down to the West side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
But when the ambassadors of the lords of Babilon were sent to him to enquire of the wonder that chanced in the land, God left him: to tempt him that all that was in his heart might be known.
The rest of the deeds of Hezekiah and his goodness are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz in the book of the kings of Juda and Israel.
And then Hezekiah laid him to rest with his fathers, and they buried him in the highest sepulchre of the sons of David: and Juda and the inhabiters of Jerusalem did him worship at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
For he went to and built again the hillaltars which Hezekiah his father had broken down. And he reared up altars unto Baals and made groves and bowed himself unto all the host of heaven and served them.
And he burnt his children in fire in the valley of the sons of Hennon. And he observed dismal days and occupied witchcraft and sorcery, and maintained workers with spirits and sears of fortunes: and wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to anger him withal.
And he put the carved Image of an Idol which he had made, in the house of God.|Goddes house| Of which house God said to David and to Salomon his son, in this house here in Jerusalem which I have chosen out of all the tribes, I will put my name for ever,
and no more bring the seat of Israel from the land which I have ordained for your fathers. If so be they shall be diligent to do all I have commanded by Moses in all the law ordinances and manners.
Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the Captains of the host of the king of Assur, which took Manasseh in an hold and bound him with chains and carried him to Babylon.
and made intercession to him: and he was entreated of him and heard his prayer and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. And then Manasseh knew how that the LORD was very God.
After that he built a wall without the city of David on the west side of Gihon in the brook and so forth to fish gate and round about Ophel and brought it up of a very great height, and put captains of war in all the strong cities of Juda.
And he took away strange gods and the Idol out of the house of GOD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of GOD and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
The rest of the acts of Manasseh and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the sears of visions that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, are written among the deeds of the kings of Israel.
And his prayer and how he was heard, and all his sin and trespass, and the places where he made hillaltars and set up groves and carved Images before he was meekened, are written among the deeds of the sears of visions.
And he did that displeased the LORD like unto Manasseh his father, for Amon sacrificed to all the carved Images which Manasseh his father made, and served them,
Insomuch that the eighth years of his reign, when he was yet a lad, he began to seek after the God of David his father. And in the twelfth year he began to purge Juda and Jerusalem of hillaltars, groves, carved Images, and Images of metal:
so that they brake down the altars of Baals even in his presence, and the Idols that were upon them, he caused to be destroyed. And the groves, carved Images, and Images of metal he brake and made dust of them, and strawed it upon the graves of them that had offered to them.
And in the wildernesses of them round about he plucked asunder the altars and the groves and did beat them and stamp them to powder, and beat down the idols thorowout all the land of Israel: and then returned to Jerusalem again.
And in the eighteenth year of his reign when he had purged the land and the temple, he sent Saphan the son of Azaliah, and Maasiah the governor of the city and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.
And when they came to Helkiah the high priest, men delivered them the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the entries had gathered of the hands of Manasse and Ephraim and of all that yet remained in Israel and of all Juda and Benjamin and of the inhabiters of Jerusalem.
And they put it in the hands of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the LORD; which gave it to the labourers that wrought on the house of the LORD, to repair and mend it,
And the men wrought in the work of fidelity. And the overseers of them to courage them forward, were Jahath and Obadiah Levites of the children of Merari: and Sechariah and Mesulam of the children of the Cahathites, and as many other of the Levites as could skill of instruments of Music.
And over the bearers of burthens and over all that wrought, in whatsoever workmanship it were, wete there scribes, officers and porters of the Levites.
and commanded Helkiah and Ahikam the son of Saphan and Abadon the son of Micah and the said Saphan the scribe and Asaia a servant of the king's, saying:
go and enquire of the LORD for me and for them that are left in Israel and Juda concerning the words of the book that is found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is fallen upon us, because our fathers kept not the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.
And Helkiah with them that pertained to the king went to Holdah a prophetess wife of Selum the son of Thekohath the son of Masarah keeper of the wardrobe (which prophetess dwelt in Jerusalem in the second ward) and they communed so with her.
Even thus sayeth the LORD: see, I will bring evil upon this place and upon the inhabiters thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Juda,
because they have forsaken me and have offered unto other gods to anger me with all manner works of their hands, therefore is my wrath set on fire against this place and shall not be quenched.
And as for the king of Juda which sent you to enquire of the LORD, so shall ye say unto him: thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard.
Because thine heart did melt and thou didst meek thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place and against the inhabiters thereof: and humblest thyself before me, and tarest thy clothes and weepest before me, that have I heard also sayeth the LORD.
Behold I will take thee to thy fathers and thou shalt be put in thy grave in peace, and thine eyes shall not see all the mischief that I will bring upon this place and upon the inhabiters of the same; And they brought the king word again.
And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Juda and the inhabiters of Jerusalem and the Priests and Levites and all the people great and small: and read all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.
And the king stood at his standing and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD and to keep his commandments, his witnesses and his statutes with all his heart and with all his soul and to fulfil the words of the appointment written in the said book.
And he made to come forth all that were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin, and the inhabiters of Jerusalem promised to keep the covenant of the God which was the God of their fathers.
And Josiah put away all manner of abominations out of all lands that pertained to the children of Israel, and brought all that were found in Israel, to serve the LORD their God. And they turned not aside from after the LORD God of their fathers as long as he lived.
And he said to the Levites that taught thorowout all Israel and were sanctified unto the LORD: put the holy ark in the house which Salomon the son of David king of Israel did build, ye need not to bear it upon your shoulders. Wherefore now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel.
And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the ancient households of your brethren the children of the people, and after the division of the ancient households of the Levites,
And Josiah gave to the common people in lambs and kids, for passoverofferings only, unto all that were present thirty thousand by tale, and three thousand oxen, even of the king's substance.
And his lords gave willingly both unto the people and also unto the priests and unto the Levites. Helkiah, Zachariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave unto the priests for passoverofferings two thousand and six hundredth lambs and kids, and three hundredth oxen.
And Conaniah with Semeiah and Nathaneel his brethren, and Hasabiah and Jaiel and Josabad lords of the Levites, gave unto the Levites five thousand passover offerings, and five hundredth oxen.
And they fetched away the burntofferings, to give them unto the common people as they were divided by ancient houses, for to offer unto the LORD, like as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen too.
And they dressed the passover with fire as the manner was. But the other hallowed dedicate beasts they sod in pots, cauldrons and pans and divided them quickly among all the common people.
And afterward they made ready for themselves and for the priests and for the children of Aaron, which were busied in offering of burntofferings and the fat until night. And therefore the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests the sons of Aaron.
And the singers the children of Asaph stood in their standing according to the commandment of David and Asaph, Heman and Iduthun the king's sear of visions: and the porters waited at every gate, and might not depart from their service: But their brethren the Levites prepared for them.
And so all the service of the LORD went forward the said day, in offering passover of burntofferings upon the altar of the LORD, according to the commandment of king Josiah.
And there was no passover like to that, kept in Israel from the time of Samuel the prophet: neither did any of the kings of Israel hold such a passover feast as did Josiah and the priests and Levites and all Juda, and as much of Israel as could be had, and the inhabiters of Jerusalem.
After all this, when Josiah had finished the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carcamis upon Euphrates, and Josiah went out against him.
And the other sent messengers to him saying: what have I to do with thee thou king of Juda? I came not against thee now at this time, but against an house with whom I have war, and God bade me haste. Leave off therefore and meddle not with God which is with me, lest he destroy thee.
Nevertheless Josiah turned not his face from him, but made him ready to fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho out of the mouth of God. And when he was come to fight in the valley of Magedo,
And his servants had him out of the chariot and put him in another, and brought him to Jerusalem where he died and was buried in the sepulchre of his fathers. And all Juda and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
And Jeremiah lamented Josiah, and all singing men and singing women speak of Josiah to this day, and made it an ordinance in Israel: and they be written in lamentations.
And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king upon Juda and Jerusalem, and turned his name unto Jehoiakim, but Jehoahaz his brother Necho took and carried him to Egypt.
The rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his Abominations, and that was laid to his charge, are written in the book of the kings of Israel: and Jehoiacin his son reigned in his stead.
Jehoiacin was eight years old(Septuagint Alex. Gr. eighteen years. Note: 2 Kings 24:8) when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and did that displeased the LORD.
And when the year was out, king Nabuchodonozor sent and fetched him to Babylon with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Juda and Jerusalem.
And thereto he rebelled against Nabuchodonozor which had received an oath of him by God, and was too stiff necked and too hard hearted to turn unto the LORD God of Israel.
Thereto all the rulers of the priests with the people trespassed apace after all manner of abominations of the heathen and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.
But they mocked the messengers of God and despised their words and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD so arose against his people that it was past remedy.
And so he brought upon them the king of Caldeye and slew their young men with the sword in their holy temple, and neither spared young man nor maiden, neither old man, neither so much as him that stooped for age: But gave all into his hand.
And all the vessels of the house of God both great and small, and the treasures of the house of GOD,|the LORDE| and the treasures of the king and his lords he carried to Babylon every whit.
And they burnt the house of God and brake down the walls of Jerusalem and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire with all the goodly stuff thereof, and marred it.
And he carried away them that had escaped the sword, to Babylon, where they were servants to him and his children, until the kingdom of Persia began to rule,
to fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had her pleasure of her Sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate, she kept Sabbath until she had fulfilled seventy year.
And the first year of Cyrus king of Persia to finish the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation thorowout all this kingdom, and thereto to set it up in writing, saying:
Thus sayeth Cyrus king of Persia, all the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me, which hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem that is in the land of Juda. Wherefore whosoever is among you of all his people, the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.
The end of the second book of the Chronicles of the kings of Iuda.