New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Asa Succeeds Abijah in Judah

1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and his son Asa became king in his place. The land was undisturbed for ten years during his days.

2 Asa did good and right in the sight of the Lordhis God,

3 for he removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down thesacredpillars, cut down theAsherim,

4 and commanded Judah to seek the LordGod of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment.

5 He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. And the kingdom was undisturbed under him.

6 He built fortified cities in Judah, since the land was undisturbed, and there was no one at war with him during those years, because the Lordhad given him rest.

7 For he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surroundthemwith walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the Lordour God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.

8 Now Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah, bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin, bearing shields and wielding bows; all of them were valiant warriors.

9 Now Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and he came to Mareshah.

10 So Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up in battle formation in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

11 Then Asa called to the Lordhis God and said, “Lord, there is no one besides You to helpin the battlebetween the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lordour God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.”

12 So the Lordrouted the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.

13 Asa and the people whowerewith him pursued them as far as Gerar; and so many Ethiopians fell that they could not recover, for they were shattered before the Lordand before His army. And they carried away very much plunder.

14 They destroyed all the cities around Gerar, for the dread of the Lordhad fallen on them; and they despoiled all the cities, for there was much plunder in them.

15 They also struck down those who owned livestock, and they carried away large numbers of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/14-ea92bf765005764b6caad2df6c22ff49.mp3?version_id=100—

The Prophet Azariah Warns Asa

1 Now the Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded,

2 and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the Lordis with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.

3 For many days Israel was without the true God and without a teaching priest and without law.

4 But in their distress they turned to the LordGod of Israel, and they sought Him, and He let them find Him.

5 In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for many disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands.

6 Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every kind of distress.

7 But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.”

Asa’s Reforms

8 Now when Asa heard these words and the prophecy which Azariah the son of Oded the prophet spoke, he took courage and removed the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities which he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He then restored the altar of the Lordwhich was in front of the porch of the Lord.

9 He gathered all Judah and Benjamin and those from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who resided with them, for many defected to him from Israel when they saw that the Lordhis God was with him.

10 So they assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.

11 They sacrificed to the Lordthat day 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep from the spoil they had brought.

12 They entered into the covenant to seek the LordGod of their fathers with all their heart and soul;

13 and whoever would not seek the LordGod of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman.

14 Moreover, they made an oath to the Lordwith a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets and with horns.

15 All Judah rejoiced concerning the oath, for they had sworn with their whole heart and had sought Him earnestly, and He let them find Him. So the Lordgave them rest on every side.

16 He also removed Maacah, the mother of King Asa, from theposition ofqueen mother, because she had made a horrid image as an Asherah, and Asa cut down her horrid image, crusheditand burneditat the brook Kidron.

17 But the high places were not removed from Israel; nevertheless Asa’s heart was blameless all his days.

18 He brought into the house of God the dedicated things of his father and his own dedicated things: silver and gold and utensils.

19 And there was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/15-4925c06fccaa2f2e436fdd8aa0e0bcf2.mp3?version_id=100—

Asa Wars against Baasha

1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and fortified Ramah in order to preventanyonefrom going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah.

2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the Lordand the king’s house, and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, saying,

3 “Let there bea treaty between you and me,asbetween my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold; go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so that he will withdraw from me.”

4 So Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim and all the store cities of Naphtali.

5 When Baasha heardof it,he ceased fortifying Ramah and stopped his work.

6 Then King Asa brought all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with which Baasha had been building, and with them he fortified Geba and Mizpah.

Asa Imprisons the Prophet

7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you have relied on the king of Aram and have not relied on the Lordyour God, therefore the army of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand.

8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand.

9 For the eyes of the Lordmove to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.”

10 Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him for this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.

11 Now, the acts of Asa from first to last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa became diseased in his feet. His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians.

13 So Asa slept with his fathers, having died in the forty-first year of his reign.

14 They buried him in his own tomb which he had cut out for himself in the city of David, and they laid him in the resting place which he had filled with spices of various kinds blended by the perfumers’ art; and they made a very great fire for him.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/16-449ef4c3f7c7c0b26673c091870d68f1.mp3?version_id=100—

Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa

1 Jehoshaphat his son then became king in his place, and made his position over Israel firm.

2 He placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had captured.

His Good Reign

3 The Lordwas with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father David’s earlier days and did not seek the Baals,

4 but sought the God of his father, followed His commandments, and did not act as Israel did.

5 So the Lordestablished the kingdom in his control, and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor.

6 He took great pride in the ways of the Lordand again removed the high places and the Asherim from Judah.

7 Then in the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;

8 and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.

9 They taught in Judah,havingthe book of the law of the Lordwith them; and they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

10 Now the dread of the Lordwas on all the kingdoms of the lands whichwerearound Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.

11 Some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat; the Arabians also brought him flocks, 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.

12 So Jehoshaphat grew greater and greater, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah.

13 He had large supplies in the cities of Judah, and warriors, valiant men, in Jerusalem.

14 This was their muster according to their fathers’ households: of Judah, commanders of thousands, Adnahwasthe commander, and with him 300,000 valiant warriors;

15 and next to himwasJohanan the commander, and with him 280,000;

16 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who volunteered for the Lord, and with him 200,000 valiant warriors;

17 and of Benjamin, Eliada a valiant warrior, and with him 200,000 armed with bow and shield;

18 and next to him Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 equipped for war.

19 These are they who served the king, apart from those whom the king put in the fortified cities through all Judah.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/17-b278d6a9ee7120592a08b6a395716aa0.mp3?version_id=100—

Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab

1 Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab.

2 Some years later he went down tovisitAhab at Samaria. And Ahab slaughtered many sheep and oxen for him and the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.

3 Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with meagainstRamoth-gilead?” And he said to him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people, andwe will bewith you in the battle.”

4 Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the Lord.”

5 Then the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will giveitinto the hand of the king.”

6 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of the Lordhere that we may inquire of him?”

7 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil. He is Micaiah, son of Imla.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.”

Ahab’s False Prophets Assure Victory

8 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah, Imla’s son.”

9 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed intheirrobes, andtheywere sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

10 Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are consumed.'”

11 All the prophets were prophesying thus, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed, for the Lordwill giveitinto the hand of the king.”

Micaiah Brings Word from God

12 Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. So please let your word be like one of them and speak favorably.”

13 But Micaiah said, “As the Lordlives, what my God says, that I will speak.”

14 When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” He said, “Go up and succeed, for they will be given into your hand.”

15 Then the king said to him, “How many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”

16 So he said,

“I saw all Israel

Scattered on the mountains,

Like sheep which have no shepherd;

And the Lordsaid,

‘These have no master.

Let each of them return to his house in peace.'”

17 Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

18 Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lordsitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left.

19 The Lordsaid, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said this while another said that.

20 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lordand said, ‘I will entice him.’ And the Lordsaid to him, ‘How?’

21 He said, ‘I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You are to enticehimand prevail also. Go and do so.’

22 Now therefore, behold, the Lordhas put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of these your prophets, for the Lordhas proclaimed disaster against you.”

23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the Lordpass from me to speak to you?”

24 Micaiah said, “Behold, you will see on that day when you enter an inner room to hide yourself.”

25 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son;

26 and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put thismanin prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely.”‘”

27 Micaiah said, “If you indeed return safely, the Lordhas not spoken by me.” And he said, “Listen, all you people.”

Ahab’s Defeat and Death

28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead.

29 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.

30 Now the king of Aram had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with small or great, but with the king of Israel alone.”

31 So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel,” and they turned aside to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lordhelped him, and God diverted them from him.

32 When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

33 A certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of the chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the fight, for I am severely wounded.”

34 The battle raged that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot in front of the Arameans until the evening; and at sunset he died.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/18-e4aeecd827f5319c00c93b99f1a23f89.mp3?version_id=100—

Jehu Rebukes Jehoshaphat

1 Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem.

2 Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lordand sobringwrath on yourself from the Lord?

3 But there issomegood in you, for you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have set your heart to seek God.”

4 So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem and went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers.

Reforms Instituted

5 He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city.

6 He said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the Lordwho is with you when you render judgment.

7 Now then let the fear of the Lordbe upon you; be very careful what you do, for the Lordour God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe.”

8 In Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests, and some of the heads of the fathers’householdsof Israel, for the judgment of the Lordand to judge disputes among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

9 Then he charged them saying, “Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and wholeheartedly.

10 Whenever any dispute comes to you from your brethren who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them so that they may not be guilty before the Lord, and wrath maynotcome on you and your brethren. Thus you shall do and you will not be guilty.

11 Behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in all that pertains to the Lord, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all that pertains to the king. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Act resolutely, and the Lordbe with the upright.”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/19-1c0ba5d1942d8cd2574f1db63310f7a5.mp3?version_id=100—

Judah Invaded

1 Now it came about after this that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat.

2 Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, out of Aram and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is Engedi).”

3 Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

4 So Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord.

Jehoshaphat’s Prayer

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lordbefore the new court,

6 and he said, “O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You.

7 Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?

8 They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying,

9 ‘Should evil come upon us, the sword,orjudgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliverus.’

10 Now behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (they turned aside from them and did not destroy them),

11 seehowthey are rewarding us by coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance.

12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

13 All Judah was standing before the Lord, with their infants, their wives and their children.

Jahaziel Answers the Prayer

14 Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the Lordcame upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph;

15 and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lordto you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.

16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel.

17 Youneednot fight in thisbattle;station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lordon your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lordis with you.”

18 Jehoshaphat bowed his head withhisface to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.

19 The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the LordGod of Israel, with a very loud voice.

Enemies Destroy Themselves

20 They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the Lordyour God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.”

21 When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lordand those who praisedHimin holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

22 When they began singing and praising, the Lordset ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.

23 For the sons of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir destroyingthemcompletely; and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

24 When Judah came to the lookout of the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude, and behold, theywerecorpses lying on the ground, and no one had escaped.

25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found much among them,includinggoods, garments and valuable things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry. And they were three days taking the spoil because there was so much.

Triumphant Return to Jerusalem

26 Then on the fourth day they assembled in the valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the Lord. Therefore they have named that place “The Valley ofBeracah” until today.

27 Every man of Judah and Jerusalem returned with Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lordhad made them to rejoice over their enemies.

28 They came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres and trumpets to the house of the Lord.

29 And the dread of God was on all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the Lordhad fought against the enemies of Israel.

30 So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God gave him rest on all sides.

31 Now Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. Hewasthirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. And his mother’s namewasAzubah the daughter of Shilhi.

32 He walked in the way of his father Asa and did not depart from it, doing right in the sight of the Lord.

33 The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.

34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first to last, behold, they are written in the annals of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

Alliance Displeases God

35 After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. He acted wickedly in so doing.

36 So he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion-geber.

37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the Lordhas destroyed your works.” So the ships were broken and could not go to Tarshish.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/20-ddc03c0ac29c2c5370d74ad26ba28850.mp3?version_id=100—

Jehoram Succeeds Jehoshaphat in Judah

1 Then Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Jehoram his son became king in his place.

2 He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azaryahu, Michael and Shephatiah. All thesewerethe sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.

3 Their father gave them many gifts of silver, gold and precious things, with fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.

4 Now when Jehoram had taken over the kingdom of his father and made himself secure, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and some of the rulers of Israel also.

5 Jehoramwasthirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

6 He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab did (for Ahab’s daughter was his wife), and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.

7 Yet the Lordwas not willing to destroy the house of David because of the covenant which He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and his sons forever.

Revolt against Judah

8 In his days Edom revoltedagainst the rule of Judah and set up a king over themselves.

9 Then Jehoram crossed over with his commanders and all his chariots with him. And he arose by night and struck down the Edomites who were surrounding him and the commanders of the chariots.

10 So Edom revoltedagainst Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time against his rule, because he had forsaken the LordGod of his fathers.

11 Moreover, he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot and led Judah astray.

12 Then a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet saying, “Thus says the LordGod of your father David, ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father and the ways of Asa king of Judah,

13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot as the house of Ahab played the harlot, and you have also killed your brothers, your own family, who were better than you,

14 behold, the Lordis going to strike your people, your sons, your wives and all your possessions with a great calamity;

15 and you will suffer severe sickness, a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out because of the sickness, day by day.'”

16 Then the Lordstirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabs who bordered the Ethiopians;

17 and they came against Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions found in the king’s house together with his sons and his wives, so that no son was left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.

18 So after all this the Lordsmote him in his bowels with an incurable sickness.

19 Now it came about in the course of time, at the end of two years, that his bowels came out because of his sickness and he died in great pain. And his people made no fire for him like the fire for his fathers.

20 He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years; and he departed with no one’s regret, and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/21-ef5afb2509d66864e2e1b2a256698159.mp3?version_id=100—

Ahaziah Succeeds Jehoram in Judah

1 Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, for the band of men who came with the Arabs to the camp had slain all the oldersons.So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign.

2 Ahaziahwastwenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri.

3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly.

4 He did evil in the sight of the Lordlike the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.

Ahaziah Allies with Jehoram of Israel

5 He also walked according to their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to wage war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. But the Arameans wounded Joram.

6 So he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which they had inflicted on him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. And Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram king of Judah, went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

7 Now the destruction of Ahaziah was from God, in that he went to Joram. For when he came, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lordhad anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.

Jehu Murders Princes of Judah

8 It came about when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers ministering to Ahaziah, and slew them.

9 He also sought Ahaziah, and they caught him while he was hiding in Samaria; they brought him to Jehu, put him to death and buried him. For they said, “He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lordwith all his heart.” So there was no one of the house of Ahaziah to retain the power of the kingdom.

10 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose and destroyed all the royal offspring of the house of Judah.

11 But Jehoshabeath the king’s daughter took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and placed him and his nurse in the bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah so that she would not put him to death.

12 He was hidden with them in the house of God six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/22-6dfaca6dba6ae931106664079fb2e4b7.mp3?version_id=100—

Jehoiada Sets Joash on the Throne of Judah

1 Now in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Johanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri,and they enteredinto a covenant with him.

2 They went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of the fathers’householdsof Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

3 Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lordhas spoken concerning the sons of David.

4 This is the thing which you shall do: one third of you, of the priests and Levites who come in on the sabbath,shall begatekeepers,

5 and one thirdshall beat the king’s house, and a third at the Gate of the Foundation; and all the peopleshall bein the courts of the house of the Lord.

6 But let no one enter the house of the Lordexcept the priests and the ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy. And let all the people keep the charge of the Lord.

7 The Levites will surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever enters the house, let him be killed. Thus be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”

8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with those who were to go out on the sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismissany ofthe divisions.

9 Then Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields which had been King David’s, which were in the house of God.

10 He stationed all the people, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king.

11 Then they brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him, andgave himthe testimony and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, “Longlive the king!”

Athaliah Murdered

12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came into the house of the Lordto the people.

13 She looked, and behold, the king was standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpeterswerebeside the king. And all the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets, the singers withtheirmusical instruments leading the praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and said, “Treason! Treason!”

14 Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks; and whoever follows her, put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the Lord.”

15 So they seized her, and when she arrived at the entrance of the Horse Gate of the king’s house, they put her to death there.

Reforms Carried Out

16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the Lord’speople.

17 And all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down, and they broke in pieces his altars and his images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

18 Moreover, Jehoiada placed the offices of the house of the Lordunder the authority of the Levitical priests, whom David had assigned over the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the law of Moses-with rejoicing and singing according to the order of David.

19 He stationed the gatekeepers of the house of the Lord, so that no one would enterwho wasin any way unclean.

20 He took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and came through the upper gate to the king’s house. And they placed the king upon the royal throne.

21 So all of the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/23-25daada466afd84e5547f2ba099b6398.mp3?version_id=100—