New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Young Joash Influenced by Jehoiada

1 Joashwasseven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s namewasZibiah from Beersheba.

2 Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lordall the days of Jehoiada the priest.

3 Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he became the father of sons and daughters.

Faithless Priests

4 Now it came about after this that Joash decided to restore the house of the Lord.

5 He gathered the priests and Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect money from all Israel to repair the house of your God annually, and you shall do the matter quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly.

6 So the king summoned Jehoiada the chiefpriestand said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and from Jerusalem the levyfixed byMoses the servant of the Lordon the congregation of Israel for the tent of the testimony?”

7 For the sons of the wicked Athaliah had broken into the house of God and even used the holy things of the house of the Lordfor the Baals.

Temple Repaired

8 So the king commanded, and they made a chest and set it outside by the gate of the house of the Lord.

9 They made a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem to bring to the Lordthe levyfixed byMoses the servant of God on Israel in the wilderness.

10 All the officers and all the people rejoiced and brought in their levies and droppedtheminto the chest until they had finished.

11 It came about whenever the chest was brought in to the king’s officer by the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, then the king’s scribe and the chief priest’s officer would come, empty the chest, take it, and return it to its place. Thus they did daily and collected much money.

12 The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the Lord; and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of the Lord, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the Lord.

13 So the workmen labored, and the repair work progressed in their hands, and they restored the house of God according to its specifications and strengthened it.

14 When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; and it was made into utensils for the house of the Lord, utensils for the service and the burnt offering, and pans and utensils of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lordcontinually all the days of Jehoiada.

15 Now when Jehoiada reached a ripe old age he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old at his death.

16 They buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done well in Israel and to God and His house.

17 But after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and bowed down to the king, and the king listened to them.

18 They abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served theAsherim and the idols; so wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their guilt.

19 Yet He sent prophets to them to bring them back to the Lord; though they testified against them, they would not listen.

Joash Murders Son of Jehoiada

20 Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people and said to them, “Thus God has said, ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lordand do not prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He has also forsaken you.'”

21 So they conspired against him and at the command of the king they stoned him to death in the court of the house of the Lord.

22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which his father Jehoiada had shown him, but he murdered his son. And as he died he said, “May the Lordsee and avenge!”

Aram Invades and Defeats Judah

23 Now it happened at the turn of the year that the army of the Arameans came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, destroyed all the officials of the people from among the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus.

24 Indeed the army of the Arameans came with a small number of men; yet the Lorddelivered a very great army into their hands, because they had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.

25 When they had departed from him (for they left him very sick), his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and murdered him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.

26 Now these are those who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess.

27 As to his sons and the many oracles against him and the rebuilding of the house of God, behold, they are written in the treatise of the Book of the Kings. Then Amaziah his son became king in his place.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/24-81b029a02793cf819450df33b9d7eaf4.mp3?version_id=100—

Amaziah Succeeds Joash in Judah

1 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

2 He did right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart.

3 Now it came about as soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, that he killed his servants who had slain his father the king.

4 However, he did not put their children to death, butdidas it is written in the law in the book of Moses, which the Lordcommanded, saying, “Fathers shall not be put to death for sons, nor sons be put to death for fathers, but each shall be put to death for his own sin.”

Amaziah Defeats Edomites

5 Moreover, Amaziah assembled Judah and appointed them according totheirfathers’ households under commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds throughout Judah and Benjamin; and he took a census of those from twenty years old and upward and found them to be 300,000 choice men,ableto go to warandhandle spear and shield.

6 He hired also 100,000 valiant warriors out of Israel for one hundred talents of silver.

7 But a man of God came to him saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the Lordis not with Israelnor withany of the sons of Ephraim.

8 But if you do go, doit,be strong for the battle;yetGod will bring you down before the enemy, for God has power to help and to bring down.”

9 Amaziah said to the man of God, “But whatshall wedo for the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God answered, “The Lordhas much more to give you than this.”

10 Then Amaziah dismissed them, the troops which came to him from Ephraim, to go home; so their anger burned against Judah and they returned home in fierce anger.

11 Now Amaziah strengthened himself and led his people forth, and went to the Valley of Salt and struck down 10,000 of the sons of Seir.

12 The sons of Judah also captured 10,000 alive and brought them to the top of the cliff and threw them down from the top of the cliff, so that they were all dashed to pieces.

13 But the troops whom Amaziah sent back from going with him to battle, raided the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Beth-horon, and struck down 3,000 of them and plundered much spoil.

Amaziah Rebuked for Idolatry

14 Now after Amaziah came from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought the gods of the sons of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down before them and burned incense to them.

15 Then the anger of the Lordburned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people who have not delivered their own people from your hand?”

16 As he was talking with him, the king said to him, “Have we appointed you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” Then the prophet stopped and said, “I know that God has planned to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”

Amaziah Defeated by Joash of Israel

17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, the king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us face each other.”

18 Joash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thorn bush which was in Lebanon sent to the cedar which was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon and trampled the thorn bush.

19 You said, ‘Behold, you have defeated Edom.’ And your heart has become proud in boasting. Now stay at home; for why should you provoke trouble so that you, even you, would fall and Judah with you?”

20 But Amaziah would not listen, for it was from God, that He might deliver them into the handof Joashbecause they had sought the gods of Edom.

21 So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh, which belonged to Judah.

22 Judah was defeated by Israel, and they fled each to his tent.

23 Then Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and tore down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, 400 cubits.

24 He tookall the gold and silver and all the utensils which were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

25 And Amaziah, the son of Joash king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Joash, son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.

26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from first to last, behold, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel?

27 From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the Lordthey conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there.

28 Then they brought him on horses and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/25-f8c06dc6095ae5623b35af22b107419f.mp3?version_id=100—

Uzziah Succeeds Amaziah in Judah

1 And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, whowassixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah.

2 He built Eloth and restored it to Judah after the king slept with his fathers.

3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Jechiliah of Jerusalem.

4 He did right in the sight of the Lordaccording to all that his father Amaziah had done.

5 He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him.

Uzziah Succeeds in War

6 Now he went out and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities inthe area ofAshdod and among the Philistines.

7 God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur-baal, and the Meunites.

8 The Ammonites also gave tribute to Uzziah, and his fame extended to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong.

9 Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the corner buttress and fortified them.

10 He built towers in the wilderness and hewed many cisterns, for he had much livestock, both in the lowland and in the plain.He also hadplowmen and vinedressers in the hill country and the fertile fields, for he loved the soil.

11 Moreover, Uzziah had an army ready for battle, which entered combat by divisions according to the number of their muster, prepared by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the official, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s officers.

12 The total number of the heads of the households, of valiant warriors, was 2,600.

13 Under their direction was an elite army of 307,500, who could wage war with great power, to help the king against the enemy.

14 Moreover, Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows and sling stones.

15 In Jerusalem he made enginesof warinvented by skillful men to be on the towers and on the corners for the purpose of shooting arrows and great stones. Hence his fame spread afar, for he was marvelously helped until hewasstrong.

Pride Is Uzziah’s Undoing

16 But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the Lordhis God, for he entered the temple of the Lordto burn incense on the altar of incense.

17 Then Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of the Lord, valiant men.

18 They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the LordGod.”

19 But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the altar of incense.

20 Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, hewasleprous on his forehead; and they hurried him out of there, and he himself also hastened to get out because the Lordhad smitten him.

21 King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death; and he lived in a separate house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the house of the Lord. And Jotham his sonwasover the king’s house judging the people of the land.

22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first to last, the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, has written.

23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the grave which belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” And Jotham his son became king in his place.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/26-9c9568850bfffd834ba377215ef372ec.mp3?version_id=100—

Jotham Succeeds Uzziah in Judah

1 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.

2 He did right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah had done; however he did not enter the temple of the Lord. But the people continued acting corruptly.

3 He built the upper gate of the house of the Lord, and he built extensively the wall of Ophel.

4 Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and he built fortresses and towers on the woodedhills.

5 He fought also with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed over them so that the Ammonites gave him during that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousandkors of wheat and ten thousand of barley. The Ammonites also paid him thisamountin the second and in the third year.

6 So Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways before the Lordhis God.

7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, even all his wars and his acts, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

8 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.

9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Ahaz his son became king in his place.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/27-daf42496aa20223bd7813bd0764f53ff.mp3?version_id=100—

Ahaz Succeeds Jotham in Judah

1 Ahazwastwenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do right in the sight of the Lordas David his fatherhad done.

2 But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; he also made molten images for the Baals.

3 Moreover, he burned incense in the valley of Ben-hinnom and burned his sons in fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lordhad driven out before the sons of Israel.

4 He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills and under every green tree.

Judah Is Invaded

5 Wherefore, the Lordhis God delivered him into the hand of the king of Aram; and they defeated him and carried away from him a great number of captives and broughtthemto Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who inflicted him with heavy casualties.

6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah 120,000 in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the LordGod of their fathers.

7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king’s son and Azrikam the ruler of the house and Elkanah the second to the king.

8 The sons of Israel carried away captive of their brethren 200,000 women, sons and daughters; and they took also a great deal of spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.

9 But a prophet of the Lordwas there, whose namewasOded; and he went out to meet the army which came to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because the Lord, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a ragewhichhas even reached heaven.

10 Now you are proposing to subjugate for yourselves the people of Judah and Jerusalem for male and female slaves. Surely,doyou nothavetransgressions of your own against the Lordyour God?

11 Now therefore, listen to me and return the captives whom you captured from your brothers, for the burning anger of the Lordis against you.”

12 Then some of the heads of the sons of Ephraim-Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai-arose against those who were coming from the battle,

13 and said to them, “You must not bring the captives in here, for you are proposingto bringupon us guilt against the Lordadding to our sins and our guilt; for our guilt is great so thatHisburning anger is against Israel.”

14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the officers and all the assembly.

15 Then the men who were designated by name arose, took the captives, and they clothed all their naked ones from the spoil; and they gave them clothes and sandals, fed them and gave them drink, anointed themwith oil,led all their feeble ones on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers; then they returned to Samaria.

Compromise with Assyria

16 At that time King Ahaz sent to thekings of Assyria for help.

17 For again the Edomites had come and attacked Judah and carried away captives.

18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the Negev of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, and Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages, and they settled there.

19 For the Lordhumbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had brought about a lack of restraint in Judah and was very unfaithful to the Lord.

20 So Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him.

21 Although Ahaz took a portion out of the house of the Lordand out of the palace of the king and of the princes, and gaveitto the king of Assyria, it did not help him.

22 Now in the time of his distress this same King Ahaz became yet more unfaithful to the Lord.

23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they became the downfall of him and all Israel.

24 Moreover, when Ahaz gathered together the utensils of the house of God, he cut the utensils of the house of God in pieces; and he closed the doors of the house of the Lordand made altars for himself in every corner of Jerusalem.

25 In every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked the Lord, the God of his fathers, to anger.

26 Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

27 So Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, for they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel; and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/28-e8f002ade5e1bbf8a12871b638764956.mp3?version_id=100—

Hezekiah Succeeds Ahaz in Judah

1 Hezekiah became kingwhen he wastwenty-five years old; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s namewasAbijah, the daughter of Zechariah.

2 He did right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.

3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lordand repaired them.

4 He brought in the priests and the Levites and gathered them into the square on the east.

Reforms Begun

5 Then he said to them, “Listen to me, O Levites. Consecrate yourselves now, and consecrate the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and carry the uncleanness out from the holy place.

6 For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done evil in the sight of the Lordour God, and have forsaken Him and turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord, and have turnedtheirbacks.

7 They have also shut the doors of the porch and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.

8 Therefore the wrath of the Lordwas against Judah and Jerusalem, and He has made them an object of terror, of horror, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes.

9 For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.

10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LordGod of Israel, that His burning anger may turn away from us.

11 My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lordhas chosen you to stand before Him, to minister to Him, and to be His ministers and burn incense.”

12 Then the Levites arose: Mahath, the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, from the sons of the Kohathites; and from the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and from the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah;

13 and from the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel; and from the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah;

14 and from the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei; and from the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.

15 They assembled their brothers, consecrated themselves, and went in to cleanse the house of the Lord, according to the commandment of the king by the words of the Lord.

16 So the priests went in to the inner part of the house of the Lordto cleanseit,and every unclean thing which they found in the temple of the Lordthey brought out to the court of the house of the Lord. Then the Levites receiveditto carry out to the Kidron valley.

17 Now they began the consecration on the firstdayof the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they entered the porch of the Lord. Then they consecrated the house of the Lordin eight days, and finished on the sixteenth day of the first month.

18 Then they went in to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed the whole house of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering with all of its utensils, and the table of showbread with all of its utensils.

19 Moreover, all the utensils which King Ahaz had discarded during his reign in his unfaithfulness, we have prepared and consecrated; and behold, they are before the altar of the Lord.”

Hezekiah Restores Temple Worship

20 Then King Hezekiah arose early and assembled the princes of the city and went up to the house of the Lord.

21 They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and Judah. And he ordered the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offerthemon the altar of the Lord.

22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. They also slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar; they slaughtered the lambs also and sprinkled the blood on the altar.

23 Then they brought the male goats of the sin offering before the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them.

24 The priests slaughtered them and purged the altar with their blood to atone for all Israel, for the king ordered the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel.

25 He then stationed the Levites in the house of the Lordwith cymbals, with harps and with lyres, according to the command of David and of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for the command was from the Lordthrough His prophets.

26 The Levites stood with themusicalinstruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

27 Then Hezekiah gave the order to offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song to the Lordalso began with the trumpets,accompaniedby the instruments of David, king of Israel.

28 While the whole assembly worshiped, the singers also sang and the trumpets sounded; all thiscontinueduntil the burnt offering was finished.

29 Now at the completion of the burnt offerings, the king and all who were present with him bowed down and worshiped.

30 Moreover, King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the Lordwith the words of David and Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with joy, and bowed down and worshiped.

31 Then Hezekiah said, “Nowthatyou have consecrated yourselves to the Lord, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all those who were willingbroughtburnt offerings.

32 The number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord.

33 The consecrated things were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep.

34 But the priests were too few, so that they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was completed and until theotherpriests had consecrated themselves. For the Levites were more conscientious to consecrate themselves than the priests.

35 Therewerealso many burnt offerings with the fat of the peace offerings and with the libations for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of the Lordwas establishedagain.

36 Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what God had prepared for the people, because the thing came about suddenly.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/29-952a3935982ed6849065cc0bd280064b.mp3?version_id=100—

All Israel Invited to the Passover

1 Now Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lordat Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover to the LordGod of Israel.

2 For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month,

3 since they could not celebrate it at that time, because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient numbers, nor had the people been gathered to Jerusalem.

4 Thus the thing was right in the sight of the king and all the assembly.

5 So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout all Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to celebrate the Passover to the LordGod of Israel at Jerusalem. For they had not celebrateditin great numbers as it was prescribed.

6 The couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the hand of the king and his princes, even according to the command of the king, saying, “O sons of Israel, return to the LordGod of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that He may return to those of you who escapedandare left from the hand of the kings of Assyria.

7 Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were unfaithful to the LordGod of their fathers, so that He made them a horror, as you see.

8 Now do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to the Lordand enter His sanctuary which He has consecrated forever, and serve the Lordyour God, that His burning anger may turn away from you.

9 For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your sonswill findcompassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land. For the Lordyour God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turnHisface away from you if you return to Him.”

10 So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them.

11 Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.

12 The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord.

Passover Reinstituted

13 Now many people were gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very large assembly.

14 They arose and removed the altars whichwerein Jerusalem; they also removed all the incense altars and casttheminto the brook Kidron.

15 Then they slaughtered the Passoverlambson the fourteenth of the second month. And the priests and Levites were ashamed of themselves, and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the Lord.

16 They stood at their stations after their custom, according to the law of Moses the man of God; the priests sprinkled the bloodwhich they receivedfrom the hand of the Levites.

17 Forthere weremany in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves; therefore, the Leviteswereover the slaughter of the Passoverlambsfor everyone whowasunclean, in order to consecratethemto the Lord.

18 For a multitude of the people,evenmany from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than prescribed. For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lordpardon

19 everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the LordGod of his fathers, though not according to the purificationrulesof the sanctuary.”

20 So the Lordheard Hezekiah and healed the people.

21 The sons of Israel present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Breadforseven days with great joy, and the Levites and the priests praised the Lordday after day with loud instruments to the Lord.

22 Then Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good insightin the thingsof the Lord. So they ate for the appointed seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the LordGod of their fathers.

23 Then the whole assembly decided to celebratethe feastanother seven days, so they celebrated the seven days with joy.

24 For Hezekiah king of Judah had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep, and the princes had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep; and a large number of priests consecrated themselves.

25 All the assembly of Judah rejoiced, with the priests and the Levites and all the assembly that came from Israel, both the sojourners who came from the land of Israel and those living in Judah.

26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, because there was nothing like this in Jerusalem since the days of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.

27 Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer came to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/30-111f391ca1629ec98f223c7ce7f15d37.mp3?version_id=100—

Idols Are Destroyed

1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, broke the pillars in pieces, cut down theAsherim and pulled down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the sons of Israel returned to their cities, each to his possession.

2 And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites by their divisions, each according to his service,boththe priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister and to give thanks and to praise in the gates of the camp of the Lord.

Reforms Continued

3 Healsoappointedthe king’s portion of his goods for the burnt offerings,namely,for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths and for the new moons and for the fixed festivals, as it is written in the law of the Lord.

4 Also he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the law of the Lord.

5 As soon as the order spread, the sons of Israel provided in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of all.

6 The sons of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of sacred gifts which were consecrated to the Lordtheir God, and placedthemin heaps.

7 In the third month they began to make the heaps, and finishedthemby the seventh month.

8 When Hezekiah and the rulers came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lordand His people Israel.

9 Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

10 Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok said to him, “Since the contributions began to be brought into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat with plenty left over, for the Lordhas blessed His people, and this great quantity is left over.”

11 Then Hezekiah commandedthemto prepare rooms in the house of the Lord, and they preparedthem.

12 They faithfully brought in the contributions and the tithes and the consecrated things; and Conaniah the Levitewasthe officer in charge of them and his brother Shimeiwassecond.

13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath and Benaiahwereoverseers under the authority of Conaniah and Shimei his brother by the appointment of King Hezekiah, and Azariahwasthechiefofficer of the house of God.

14 Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the easterngate, wasover the freewill offerings of God, to apportion the contributions for the Lordand the most holy things.

15 Under his authoritywereEden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shecaniah in the cities of the priests, to distribute faithfullytheir portionsto their brothers by divisions, whether great or small,

16 without regard to their genealogical enrollment, to the males from thirty years old and upward-everyone who entered the house of the Lordfor his daily obligations-for their work in their duties according to their divisions;

17 as well as the priests who were enrolled genealogically according to their fathers’ households, and the Levites from twenty years old and upwards, by their dutiesandtheir divisions.

18 The genealogical enrollmentincludedall their little children, their wives, their sons and their daughters, for the whole assembly, for they consecrated themselves faithfully in holiness.

19 Also for the sons of Aaron the priestswho werein the pasture lands of their cities, or in each and every city,there weremen who were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to everyone genealogically enrolled among the Levites.

20 Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah; and he did whatwasgood, right and true before the Lordhis God.

21 Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/31-cb1d9668629024649a62c4f4d5f70807.mp3?version_id=100—

Sennacherib Invades Judah

1 After these acts of faithfulness Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and besieged the fortified cities, and thought to break into them for himself.

2 Now when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to make war on Jerusalem,

3 he decided with his officers and his warriors to cut off thesupply ofwater from the springs whichwereoutside the city, and they helped him.

4 So many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream which flowed through the region, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find abundant water?”

5 And he took courage and rebuilt all the wall that had been broken down and erected towers on it, andbuiltanother outside wall and strengthened the Millointhe city of David, and made weapons and shields in great number.

6 He appointed military officers over the people and gathered them to him in the square at the city gate, and spoke encouragingly to them, saying,

7 “Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him.

8 With him isonlyan arm of flesh, but with us is the Lordour God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Sennacherib Undermines Hezekiah

9 After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem while hewasbesieging Lachish with all his forces with him, against Hezekiah king of Judah and against all Judah whowereat Jerusalem, saying,

10 “Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, ‘On what are you trusting that you are remaining in Jerusalem under siege?

11 Is not Hezekiah misleading you to give yourselves over to die by hunger and by thirst, saying, “The Lordour God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria”?

12 Has not the same Hezekiah taken away His high places and His altars, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, “You shall worship before one altar, and on it you shall burn incense”?

13 Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of the lands able at all to deliver their land from my hand?

14 Whowas thereamong all the gods of those nations which my fathers utterly destroyed who could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand?

15 Now therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you like this, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand?'”

16 His servants spoke further against the LordGod and against His servant Hezekiah.

17 He also wrote letters to insult the LordGod of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying, “As the gods of the nations of the lands have not delivered their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver His people from my hand.”

18 They called this out with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, so that they might take the city.

19 They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of men’s hands.

Hezekiah’s Prayer Is Answered

20 But King Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed about this and cried out to heaven.

21 And the Lordsent an angel who destroyed every mighty warrior, commander and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned in shame to his own land. And when he had entered the temple of his god, some of his own children killed him there with the sword.

22 So the Lordsaved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of allothers,and guided them on every side.

23 And many were bringing gifts to the Lordat Jerusalem and choice presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations thereafter.

24 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill; and he prayed to the Lord, and the Lordspoke to him and gave him a sign.

25 But Hezekiah gave no return for the benefit he received, because his heart was proud; therefore wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.

26 However, Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lorddid not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 Now Hezekiah had immense riches and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuable articles,

28 storehouses also for the produce of grain, wine and oil, pens for all kinds of cattle and sheepfolds for the flocks.

29 He made cities for himself and acquired flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great wealth.

30 It was Hezekiah who stopped the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all that he did.

31 Evenin the matter ofthe envoys of the rulers of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that had happened in the land, God left himalone onlyto test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his deeds of devotion, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

33 So Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper section of the tombs of the sons of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. And his son Manasseh became king in his place.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/32-c93c99a66b0541b3aa951b92ede9a1af.mp3?version_id=100—

Manasseh Succeeds Hezekiah in Judah

1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.

2 He did evil in the sight of the Lordaccording to the abominations of the nations whom the Lorddispossessed before the sons of Israel.

3 For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; he also erected altars for the Baals and madeAsherim, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.

4 He built altars in the house of the Lordof which the Lordhad said, “My name shall be in Jerusalem forever.”

5 For he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.

6 He made his sons pass through the fire in the valley of Ben-hinnom; and he practiced witchcraft, used divination, practiced sorcery and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking Himto anger.

7 Then he put the carved image of the idol which he had made in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever;

8 and I will not again remove the foot of Israel from the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them according to all the law, the statutes and the ordinancesgiventhrough Moses.”

9 Thus Manasseh misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the Lorddestroyed before the sons of Israel.

Manasseh’s Idolatry Rebuked

10 The Lordspoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.

11 Therefore the Lordbrought the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria against them, and they captured Manasseh withhooks, bound him with bronzechainsand took him to Babylon.

12 When he was in distress, he entreated the Lordhis God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.

13 When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LordwasGod.

14 Now after this he built the outer wall of the city of David on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance of the Fish Gate; and he encircled the Ophelwith itand made it very high. Then he put army commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah.

15 He also removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the Lord, as well as all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lordand in Jerusalem, and he threwthemoutside the city.

16 He set up the altar of the Lordand sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it; and he ordered Judah to serve the LordGod of Israel.

17 Nevertheless the people still sacrificed in the high places,althoughonly to the Lordtheir God.

18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh even his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LordGod of Israel, behold, they are among the records of the kings of Israel.

19 His prayer also andhow Godwas entreated by him, and all his sin, his unfaithfulness, and the sites on which he built high places and erected the Asherim and the carved images, before he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the records of the Hozai.

20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house. And Amon his son became king in his place.

Amon Becomes King in Judah

21 Amonwastwenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.

22 He did evil in the sight of the Lordas Manasseh his father had done, and Amon sacrificed to all the carved images which his father Manasseh had made, and he served them.

23 Moreover, he did not humble himself before the Lordas his father Manasseh had done, but Amon multiplied guilt.

24 Finally his servants conspired against him and put him to death in his own house.

25 But the people of the land killed all the conspirators against King Amon, and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2CH/33-1524a3315812818a9360db38a3bf665d.mp3?version_id=100—