Sennacherib invades Judah. II. CHRONICLES.

The Assyrians destroyed. 3 He took counsel with his princes and, 16 And his servants spake yet more his mighty men to stop the waters of the against the LORD God, and against his fountains which were without the city: servant Hezekiah.

and they did help him.

17 He wrote also letters to rail on the 4 So there was gathered much people LORD God of Israel, and to speak against together, who stopped all the fountains, him, saying, As the gods of the nations of and the brook that ran through the midst other lands have not delivered their peoof the land, saying, Why should the kings ple out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Assyria come, and find much water? of Hezekiah deliver his people out of my 5 Also he strengthened himself, and hand.

built up all the wall that was broken, and 18 Then they cried with a loud voice,in raised it up to the towers, and another the Jews' speech, unto the people of Jeruwall without, and repaired Millo in the salem that were on the wall, to affright city of David, and made darts and shields them, and to trouble them; that they in abundance. might take the city.

6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, 7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria,nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him.

19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.

20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.

21 And the LORD sent an angel, which 8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with cut off all the mighty men of valour, and us is the LORD our God to help us, and to the leaders and captains in the camp of fight our battles. And the people rested the king of Assyria. So he returned with themselves upon the words of Hezekiah shame of face to his own land. And when king of Judah. he was come into the house of his god, they

9 After this did Sennacherib king of that came forth of his own bowels slew Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, him there with the sword.

(but he himself laid siege against Lachish, 22 Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and and all his power with him,) unto Heze- the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand kiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and that were at Jerusalem, saying, from the hand of all other, and guided them

10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of As-on every side.. syria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?

23 And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from

11 Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall thenceforth. deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

24 In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: 12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken and he spake unto him, and he gave him away his high places, and his altars, and a sign. commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, 25 But Hezekiah rendered not again Ye shall worship before one altar, and according to the benefit done unto him; burn incense upon it? for his heart was lifted up: therefore there 13 Know ye not what I and my fathers was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and have done unto all the people of other Jerusalem. lands? were the gods of the nations of 26 Notwithstanding, Hezekiah humbled those lands any ways able to deliver their himself for the pride of his heart, both he lands out of mine hand? and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that 14 Who was there among all the gods the wrath of the LORD came not upon them of those nations that my fathers utterly in the days of Hezekiah. destroyed, that could deliver his people 27¶ And Hezekiah had exceeding much out of mine hand, that your God should riches and honour: and be made himself be able to deliver you out of mine hand? treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for 15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah de- precious stones, and for spices, and for ceive you, nor persuade you on this man- shields, and for all manner of pleasant ner, neither yet believe him: for no god jewels:

of any nation or kingdom was able to de- 28 Storehouses also for the increase of liver his people out of mine hand, and out corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all of the hand of my fathers: how much less manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks. shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?

29 Moreover, he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abun

Manasseh's wicked reign.

CHAP. XXXIII.

Amon succeeds him. dance: for God had given him substance worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of very much. 30 This same Hezekiah also stopped Israel. the upper water-course of Gihon, and 10 And the LORD spake to Manasseh, brought it straight down to the west side and to his people: but they would not of the city of David. And Hezekiah pros- hearken. 11 ¶ Wherefore the LORD brought upon

pered in all his works.

31 ¶ Howbeit, in the business of the am- them the captains of the host of the king bassadors of the princes of Babylon, who of Assyria, which took Manasseh among sent unto him to inquire of the wonder the thorns, and bound him with fetters, that was done in the land, God left him, and carried him to Babylon. to try him, that he might know all that 12 And when he was in affliction, he was in his heart. besought the LORD his God, and humbled 32 Now the rest of the acts of Heze- himself greatly before the God of his kiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

CHAP. XXXIII.

MANASSE began to reign, and he TANASSEH was twelve years old reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: 2 But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

4 Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.

fathers,

13 And prayed unto him: and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.

14 Now after this, he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish-gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, cities of Judah. and put captains of war in all the fenced

15 And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.

16 And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace-offerings and thank-offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel.

17 Nevertheless, the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only.

18 Now the rest of the acts of Ma5 And he built altars for all the host of nasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and heaven in the two courts of the house of the words of the seers that spake to him in the LORD. the name of the LORD God of Israel, be6 And he caused his children to pass hold, they are written in the book of the through the fire in the valley of the son of kings of Israel. Hinnom also he observed times, and used : 19 His prayer also, and how God was enchantments, and used witchcraft, and entreated of him, and all his sin, and his dealt with a familiar spirit, and with trespass, and the places wherein he built wizards he wrought much evil in the high places, and set up groves and graven sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. images, before he was humbled: behold, 7 And he set a carved image, the idol they are written among the sayings of the 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 before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name forever: 21 ¶ Amon was two and twenty years 8 Neither will I any more remove the old when he began to reign, and reigned foot of Israel from out of the land which I two years in Jerusalem. have appointed for your fathers; so that 22 But he did that which was evil in the they will take heed to do all that I have sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his commanded them, according to the whole father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the law and the statutes and the ordinances by carved images which Manasseh his father the band of Moses. had made, and served them;

seers.

20 ¶ So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

9 So Manasseh made Judah and the in- 23 And humbled not himself before t abitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbl

Josiah's good reign.

more.

himself; but Amon trespassed more and ber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed. 24 And his servants conspired against 12 And the men did the work faithhim, and slew him in his own house. fully and the overseers of them were 25 T But the people of the land slew Jabath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the all them that had conspired against king sons of Merari; and Zechariah and MeAmon; and the people of the land made shullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to Josiah his son king in his stead. set it forward; and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of musick.

CHAP. XXXIV. J% OSIAH was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.

2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

13 Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.

14 And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of 3 For in the eighth year of his reign, the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book while he was yet young, he began to seek of the law of the LORD given by Moses. after the God of David his father: and in 15 And Hilkiah answered and said to the twelfth year he began to purge Judah Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book and Jerusalem from the high places, and of the law in the house of the LORD. And the groves, and the carved images, and the Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. molten images. 16 And Shaphan carried the book to

4 And they brake down the altars of the king, and brought the king word back Baalim in his presence; and the images, again, saying, All that was committed to that were on high above them, he cut down; thy servants, they do it.

and the groves, and the carved images, 17 And they have gathered together the and the molten images, he brake in pieces, money that was found in the house of the and made dust of them, and strewed it up- LORD, and have delivered it into the hand on the graves of them that had sacrificed of the overseers, and to the hand of the unto them. workmen.

5 And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

6 And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.

18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.

19 And it came to pass when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.

7 And when he had broken down the al- 20 And the king commanded Hilkiah, tars and the groves, and had beaten the and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon graven images into powder, and cut down the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, all the idols throughout all the land of Is-and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying, rael, he returned to Jerusalem. 21 Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and

8 Now in the eighteenth year of his for them that are left in Israel, and in Jureign, when he had purged the land, and dah, concerning the words of the book that the house, he sent Shaphan the son of is found for great is the wrath of the Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the re- our fathers have not kept the word of the corder, to repair the house of the LORD LORD, to do after all that is written in this his God. book.

9 And when they came to Hilkiah the 22 And Hilkiah, and they that the king high priest, they delivered the money that had appointed, went to Huldah the prowas brought into the house of God, which phetess, the wife of Shallum the son of the Levites that kept the doors had ga-Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the thered of the hand of Manasseh and wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, in the college :) and they spake to her to and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they that effect. returned to Jerusalem.

23 And she answered them, Thus 10 And they put it in the hand of the saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell ye the workmen that had the oversight of the man that sent you to me, house of the LORD, and they gave it to the 24 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will workmen that wrought in the house of the bring evil upon this place, and upon the LORD, to repair and mend the house: inhabitants thereof, even all the curses 11 Even to the artificers and builders that are written in the book which they gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and tim-¡have read before the king of Judah :

25 Because they have forsaken me, and all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, have burned incense unto other gods, that Put the holy ark in the house which Solothey might provoke me to anger with all mon the son of David king of Israel did the works of their hands; therefore my build: it shall not be a burden upon your wrath shall be poured out upon this place, shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and shall not be quenched. and his people Israel, 26 And as for the king of Judah, who 4 And prepare yourselves by the houses sent you to inquire of the LORD, so shall of your fathers after your courses, accordye say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God ing to the writing of Dayid king of Israel, of Israel concerning the words which thou and according to the writing of Solomon hast heard; his son.

27 Because thine heart was tender, and 5 And stand in the holy place according thou didst humble thyself before God to the divisions of the families of the fawhen thou heardest his words against this thers of your brethren the people, and after place, and against the inhabitants thereof, the division of the families of the Levites. and humbledst thyself before me, and 6 So kill the passover, and sanctify didst rend thy clothes, and weep before yourselves, and prepare your brethren, me; I have even heard thee also, saith the that they may do according to the word of LORD. the LORD by the hand of Moses.

28 Behold, I will gather thee to thy 7 And Josiah gave to the people, of the fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy flock, lambs and kids, all for the passovergrave in peace, neither shall thine eyes offerings, for all that were present, to the see all the evil that I will bring upon this number of thirty thousand, and three thouplace, and upon the inhabitants of the sand bullocks: these were of the king's same. So they brought the king word substance.

again. 8 And his princes gave willingly unto 29 Then the king sent and gathered the people, to the priests, and to the Letogether all the elders of Judah and Jeru- vites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, salem. rulers of the house of God, gave unto the 30 And the king went up into the house priests for the passover-offerings two thouof the LORD, and all the men of Judah sand and six hundred small cattle, and and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the three hundred oxen.

priests, and the Levites, and all the peo- 9 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah, and Ne; ple, great and small: and he read in their thaneel,his brethren,and Hashabiah,and Jeears all the words of the book of the cove-iel, and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave nant that was found in the house of the unto the Levites for passover-offerings five LORD. thousand small cattle,and five hundredoxen. 31 And the king stood in his place, and 10 So the service was prepared, and the made a covenant before the LORD, to walk priests stood in their place, and the Levites after the LORD, and to keep his command- in their courses, according to the king's ments, and his testimonies, and his sta- commandment. tutes, with all his heart, and with all his 11 And they killed the passover, and soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.

32 And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them.

12 And they removed the burnt-offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with

33 And Josiah took away all the abomi- the oxen. nations out of all the countries that pertain 13 And they roasted the passover with ed to the children of Israel, and made all fire according to the ordinance but the that were present in Israel to serve, even other holy offerings sod they in pots, and to serve the LORD their God. And all his in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them days they departed not from following the speedily among all the people. LORD, the God of their fathers. CHAP. XXXV.

14 And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests: because OREOVER, Josiah kept a passover the priests the sons of Aaron were busied unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and in offering of burnt-offerings and the fat they killed the passover on the fourteenth until night; therefore the Levites prepared day of the first month. for themselves, and for the priests the

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15 And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the com

2 And he set the priests in their charges, sons of Aaron. and encouraged them to the service of the house of the LORD,

3 And said unto the Levites that taught mandment of David, and Asaph, and He

Josiah is slain.

II. CHRONICLES. Pharaoh deposes Jehoahaz. man, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem. the porters waited at every gate; they 2 Jehoahaz was twenty and three years might not depart from their service; for old when he began to reign, and he reigned their brethren the Levites prepared for three months in Jerusalem.

them.

3 And the king of Egypt put him down

16 So all the service of the LORD was at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in prepared the same day, to keep the passo- a hundred talents of silver and a talent of ver, and to offer burnt-offerings upon the gold.

altar of the LORD, according to the com- 4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim mandment of king Josiah. his brother king over Judah and Jerusa17 And the children of Israel that were lem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. present kept the passover at that time, and And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. carried him to Egypt.

18 And there was no passover like to 5 Jehoiakim was twenty and five that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel years old when he began to reign, and he the prophet; neither did all the kings of reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, he did that which was evil in the sight of and the priests, and the Levites, and all the LORD his God. Judah and Israel that were present, and 6 Against him came up Nebuchadnezthe inhabitants of Jerusalem. zar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.

19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.

7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the 20 T After all this, when Josiah had vessels of the house of the LORD to Babyprepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt lon, and put them in his temple at Babylon. came up to fight against Charchemish by 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. and his abominations which he did, and 21 But he sent ambassadors to him, that which was found in him, behold, they saying, What have I to do with thee, thou are written in the book of the kings of king of Judah? I come not against thee Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son this day, but against the house wherewith reigned in his stead.

I have war: for God commanded me to 9 Jehoiachin was eight years old make haste: forbear thee from meddling when he began to reign, and he reigned with God, who is with me, that he destroy three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight

thee not.

22 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn of the LORD. his face from him, but disguised himself 10 And when the year was expired, that he might fight with him, and hearken-king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought ed not unto the words of Necho from the him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels mouth of God, and came to fight in the of the house of the LORD, and made Zedevalley of Megiddo. kiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.

23 And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.

11 Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and 24 His servants therefore took him out reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. of that chariot, and put him in the second 12 And he did that which was evil in chariot that he had; and they brought him the sight of the LORD his God, and humto Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried bled not himself before Jeremiah the in one, of the sepulchres of his fathers. prophet speaking from the mouth of the And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for LORD. Josiah.

13 And he also rebelled against king

25 And Jeremiah lamented for Jo- Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him siah: and all the singing men and the swear by God; but he stiffened his neck, singing women spake of Josiah in their and hardened his heart from turning unto lamentations to this day, and made them the LORD God of Israel.

are written in the lamentations.

an ordinance in Israel: and behold, they 14 ¶ Moreover, all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very 26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, much after all the abominations of the and his goodness, according to that which heathen; and polluted the house of the was written in the law of the LORD, LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.

27 And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

CHAP. XXXVI.

15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes and sending; because he had comHEN the people of the land took Je-passion on his people, and on his dwellinghoahaz the son of Josiah, and made place:

THE