Translation:2 Chronicles

Chapter 1
And Solomon son of David was confirmed in his kingdom, and Yahweh his god was with him, and made him very great.

And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and hundreds, and to the judges, and to every prince of all Israel, paternal heads.

And Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the shrine at Gibeon, because the tent of meeting of God was there, which Moses the servant of Yahweh had made in the wilderness.

But the ark of God had been brought up by David from Kiryat Yearim to the place David had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

And the bronze altar that Bezaleel son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, he put before the dwelling-place of Yahweh, and Solomon and the congregation inquired of it.

And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before Yahweh, which was at the tent of meeting, and offering a thousand burnt offerings on it.

That night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, Ask what I should give you.

And Solomon said to God, You have shown great loyalty to David my father, and have made me reign in his place.

Now, Yahweh, let what you said to David my father be confirmed, because you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.

Please, give me wisdom and understanding, that I may go out and and come in before this people, because who can judge this great people of yours?

And God said to Solomon, Because this is your intention, and you have not asked for wealth, riches, and glory, and the life of your enemies, nor even for a long life; but have asked for wisdom and understanding for yourself in order to judge my people, over whom I have made you king;

wisdom and understand will be given to you, and I will give you wealth, and riches, and glory, such as no kings will have had, before or after you.

And Solomon came from the shrine which is at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tent of meeting, and was king over Israel.

And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen, and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he placed in chariot cities, and with the king in Jerusalem.

And the king made silver and gold like stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedar trees as numerous and sycamores in the Shephelah.

And Solomon had horses brought from Egypt and from Kue, and the kings merchants acquired them from Kue at the going price.

And they went up and brought from Egypt a chariot for six hundred [shekels of] silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty, and likewise they imported them by their hand for all the Hittite kings and Aramean kings.

Chapter 2
And Solomon decided to build a house for Yahweh's name, and a house for his kingdom.

And Solomon mustered seventy thousand men to carry burdens, and eighty thousand to hew stone on the mountain, and three thousand six hundred to oversee them.

And Solomon sent to Huram king of Tyre, saying, As you did with David my father, and sent him cedars to built himself a house to dwell in,

see now, I am going to build a house for Yahweh's name, to consecrate it to him, to burn before him spiced incense, and the daily arrangement [of bread], and burnt offerings morning and evening, for the sabbaths, and for new moons, and for the festivals of Yahweh our god. This will be Israel's duty forever.

And the house which I will build is great, because great is our god above all the gods.

And who has the strength to built a house for him, whom heaven, the loftiest heaven, cannot contain? And who I am, that I should build him a house, except as a place to burn incense before him?

So then, send me a man skilled in working with gold, and silver, and bronze, and iron, and purple, and crimson, and blue, and knowing how to make engravings with skilled laborers who are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom my father David provided.

And send me cedar wood, juniper wood, and algum wood from the Lebanon, because I know that your servants know how to cut wood of Lebanon, and in addition my servants will be with your servants,

and to prepare me a great deal of timber, because the house which I am about to build will be great and marvelous.

And in addition, I will give to the stone-cutters and wood-cutters threshed wheat to your servants, twenty thousand kor, and twenty thousand kor of barley, and twenty thousand bat of wine, and twenty thousand bat of oil.

And Huram king of Tyre said in writing, and sent to Solomon, Because of Yahweh's love for his people, he made you king over them.

And Huram said, Blessed be Yahweh, god of Israel, who made sky and land, who gave to David the king a wise son, understanding in skill and discernment, that he might build a house for Yahweh, and a house for his kingdom.

And now I have sent a skillful man, filled with discernment, who worked for Huram my father,

the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father a man of Tyre, knowledgeable at working with gold, and silver, and bronze, and iron, and stone, and wood; in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; and to engrave all manner of engraving; and to able to think through any puzzle put to him, with your skilled workers and the skilled workers of my lord David your father.

Now then, the wheat and the barley, the oil and the wine, which my lord spoke of, will be sent to his servants.

And we will cut timber from Lebanon, as much as you require, and we will bring it to you by raft along the sea to Jaffa, and you may carry it up to Jerusalem.

And Solomon took a census of all the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, after the census which David his father had taken of them, and they were found to be one hundred fifty-three thousand, six hundred.

And he made seventy thousand of them porters, and eighty thousand stone-cutters, and three thousand six hundred to supervise the people at work.

Chapter 3
And Solomon began to build the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where he appeared to David his father, in the place where David had prepared the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And he began building in the second month, on the second [day of the month], in the fourth year of his reign.

And these are what Solomon had prepared for building the house of God. The length in cubits by the first measure was sixty cubits, and the width twenty cubits.

And the portico which was in front of the length of the house was twenty cubits, and the height of it was one hundred twenty, and he overlaid it inside with pure gold.

And the greater house he gave a ceiling of juniper, and overlaid it with fine gold, and set up on it palm trees and chains.

And he overlaid the house with precious stones for beauty, and the gold was gold of Parvaim.

And he overlaid the house, the beams, the posts, and its walls, and its doors with gold, and engraved cherubim on the walls.

And he made the building for the holy of holies, with its length running along the width of the house, twenty cubits, and its width twenty cubits, and he overlaid it with fine gold, weighing six hundred talents.

And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold, and the upper chambers he overlaid with gold.

And in the building for the holy of holies, he made two cherubim of statuary work, and overlaid them with gold.

And the wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits in [total] length: one wing was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the building, and the other wing was five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.

And a wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits, touching the wing of the other cherub.

The wings of these cherubim were spread out over twenty cubits, and they stood on their feet, and they faced inward.

And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and made cherubim upon it.

And in front of the house he made two pillars, thirty-five cubits in length, and the capital that was on top of each was five cubits.

And he made chains in the debir, and placed them atop the pillars, and made one hundred pomegranates, and placed them on the chains.

And he set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right and one on the left, and called the name of the one on the right Jachin, and the name of the one on the left Boaz.

Chapter 4
And he made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in width, and ten cubits in height.

And he made a cast sea ten cubits from brim to brim, round in a circle and five cubits in height, and a line of thirty cubits would measure its circumference.

And figures of oxen were beneath, all around it, ten per cubit, surrounding the sea. Two rows of oxen were cast when it was cast.

It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, and three facing west, and three facing south, and three facing east, and the sea was set up above them, and all their hindquarters faced inward.

And its thickness was a handbreadth, and its brim constructed like the brim of a cup, with lily flowers. It could contain three thousand bat.

And he made ten lavers, and put five on the right, and five on the left, to wash in them. The implements of the burnt offering they cleansed in them, but the sea was for the priests to wash in.

And he made the ten lampstands of gold according to their pattern, and set them in the temple, five on the right and five on the left.

And he made ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right and five on the left. And he made one hundred basins of gold.

And he made the court of the priests, and the great enclosure, and doors for the enclosure, and he overlaid the doors with bronze.

And the sea he set on the right shoulder of the east end, facing the south.

And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and basins. And Huram finished doing the work that he did for King Solomon in the house of God:

two pillars, and the bowls, and the crowns atop the two pillars, and the two lattice-works to cover the two bowls of the crowns which were atop the pillars;

and the four hundred pomegranates for the two lattice-works, two rows of pomegranates for each lattice-work, to cover the two bowls of the crowns which were upon the pillars.

And he made stands, and he made lavers upon the stands,

one sea, and twelve oxen under it.

And Huram his father made the pots, and the shovels, and the flesh-hooks, and all the associated objects for King Solomon, for Yahweh's house, of polished brass.

In the Jordan Valley the king casted them in the compacted earth between Sukkot and Zeredathah.

And Solomon made all these things in great abundance, such that the weight of the bronze could not be measurable.

And Solomon made all the objects which pertained to the house of God, and the golden altar, and the tables, and upon them the bread of the presence;

and the lampstands and their lamps, to burn as was customary before the the inner structure, of pure gold;

and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, he made of pure gold.

And the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and fire-pans were of pure gold, and the entrance of the house, its inner doors of the holy of holies, and the doors of the sanctuary building were gold.

Chapter 5
So all the work which Solomon had done for the Yahweh's house was completed, and Solomon brought in all sacred things of David his father. And the silver, and the gold, and all the objects he placed in the treasuries of God's house.

And Solomon assembled all the elders of Israel, and all the tribal heads, the clan leaders of the Israelites, to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of Yahweh's covenant from the city of David, which is Zion.

And all the men of Israel assembled themselves with the king at the festival of the seventh month.

And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites carried the ark.

And they brought up the ark, and the tent of meeting, and all the sacred objects which were in the tent; the priests, the Levites, brought them up.

And King Solomon and all the Israelite assembly assembled before him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and cattle, uncountable and immeasurable in number.

And the priests brought in the ark of Yahweh's covenant to his place, to the inner structure of the building, to the holy of holies, under the wings of the Cherubim.

Now, the Cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, and the Cherubim covered the ark and its supporting poles from above.

And the poles were long enough that their ends stuck out from the ark and were visible from the inner structure, but they were not visible from outside. And it is there to this day.

There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets which Moses had put there at Horeb, where Yahweh made a covenant with the Israelites when they came out of Egypt.

Now, when the priests had come out from the holy place, because all the priests who were there consecrated themselves and did not keep observe courses,

and the singing Levites, all those belonging to Asaph, to Heman, to Jeduthun, and to their sons and brothers, clad in fine linen, with cymbals and lyres and harps, were standing at the east of the altar, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding trumpets;

then, the trumpeters and singers making a sound as one, with a single voice to praise and thank Yahweh, and when they raised their voices with trumpets and cymbals and musical instruments, and when they praised Yahweh -- Because he is good, because his loyalty is forever -- then the house was filled with a cloud, the house of Yahweh.

And the priests were unable to stand to minister because of the cloud, because Yahweh's glory filled the house of God.

Chapter 6
Then Solomon said, Yahweh said that he would dwell in thick darkness.

And I have built a dwelling-place for you, and an abode for you to settle in forever.

And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel, and all the congregation of Israel stood.

And he said, Blessed be Yahweh, the god of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to my father David, and has filled it with his hands, saying,

Since the day when I brought out my people from the land of Egypt, I chose none of the cities of all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, for my name to be there, nor did I choose any man to be ruler over my people Israel.

But I have chosen Jerusalem, for my name to be there, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

Now, it was the intention of David my father to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the god of Israel.

But Yahweh said to David my father, Because it was your intention to build a house for my name, your intention was good.

Yet it is not you who will build the house, but your son who will come from your loins. He will build the house for my name.

And Yahweh has confirmed the message he gave, and I have arisen in the place of my father David, and I am seated on the throne of Israel as Yahweh promised, and I have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the god of Israel.

And I have placed there the ark which contains the covenant of Yahweh, which he established with the sons of Israel.

And he stood before the altar of Yahweh facing all the Israelite assembly, and spread out his hands.

Now Solomon had made a bronze platform, and had set it in the middle of the courtyard, five cubits long, and five cubits wide, and three cubits tall, and stood on it, and kneeled on his knees facing the whole Israelite assembly, and spread out his hands toward the sky.

And he said, Yahweh, god of Israel, there is no god like you in the sky, or on earth, keeping covenant and loyalty toward your servants who walk before you wholeheartedly;

who has kept with your servant David my father what you promised him, and spoke with your mouth, and fulfilled it with your hand, as at this day.

Now then, Yahweh, god of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you promised him, saying, There will never fail to be a man of yours sitting on Israel's throne, so long as your sons observe their ways to walk in my law, as you have walked before me.

Now then, Yahweh, god of Israel, let your word be true, which you have spoken to your servant David.

For can God really live among humans on the earth? Indeed, heaven, the loftiest of heavens, cannot contain you; how much less this house which I have built.

Turn your attention to your servants prayer and to his petition, Yahweh my god, and listen to the exclamation and prayer which your servant prays before you,

so that your eyes will be open to this house day and night, to the place where you said you would put your name, to hear the prayer which your servant prayers toward this place.

So listen to the petitions of your servant and your people Israel, which they will make toward this place, and hear them from your dwelling-place, from the sky; hear and forgive.

If a man sins against his fellow, and is put under an oath that he is made to swear, and the oath comes before your altar in this house,

then hear from the sky, and act, and judge your servants, by repaying the behavior of the wicked upon his own head, and vindicating the righteous, treating him according to his righteousness.

And if your people Israel are stricken by an enemy, because they have sinned against you, and they return and praise your name, and pray, and make petition before you in this house,

then hear from the sky, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which you gave to them and their fathers.

When the sky is shut and there is no rain, because they have sinned against you, and they pray toward this place, and praise your name, and they turn from their sin when you humble them;

then hear from the sky and forgive the sin of your servants and your people Israel, when you have taught them the good path where they should walk, and send rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.

When famine strikes the land, or when there is plague, or blight, or crop rot, locusts, or grasshoppers, if their enemies besiege them in their cities, whatever kind of calamity or sickness;

whatever prayer or whatever petition which any person will make, or any of your people Israel, as each one knows his own distress and his own pain, and spreads out his hands toward this house;

then hear from your dwelling in the sky, and forgive, and give to each according to his actions, whose heart you know, because you alone know the hearts of human beings;

so that they will fear you by walking in your paths all the days that they live in the land which you gave our fathers.

And also for the foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, and has come from a far land on account of your great name and your strong hand, and your outstretched arm, if they come and pray toward this house;

then hear from your dwelling in the sky and do according to all that the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name, and fear you, like your people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by your name.

If your people go out to war against their enemies by the way which you send them, and pray to you toward this city which you have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name;

then hear from the sky their prayer and their petition, and vindicate them.

If they sin against you, because there is no person who does not sin, and you are angry with them, and hand them over before the enemy, and they carry them off captive to a land far or near;

and return to their senses in the land where they are taken captive, and turn and petition you in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned; we are guilty; we have rebelled;

and they return to you will all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity where they have been taken captive, and pray facing their land which you gave to their fathers, and the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I built for your name;

then hear from your dwelling in the sky their prayer and their petitions, and vindicate them, and forgive your people who sinned against you.

Now, my god, let your eyes be open, and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place.

Now arise, Yahweh God, to your resting-place, you and the ark of your strength. May your priests, Yahweh God, be clothed in salvation, and let your faithful rejoice in goodness.

Yahweh God, do not turn away the face of your anointed. Remember the loyalties of David your servant.

Chapter 7
And when Solomon had finished praying, the fire came down from the sky and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of Yahweh filled the house.

And the priests could not enter the house of Yahweh, because the glory of Yahweh had filled Yahweh's house.

And when all the Israelites saw fire coming down, and the glory of Yahweh upon the house, they bowed, faces to the ground, on the pavement, and prostrated themselves and praised Yahweh, because he is good, and his loyalty eternal.

And the king and all the people offered sacrifices before Yahweh.

And King Solomon sacrificed twenty-two thousand oxen, and one hundred twenty thousand sheep, and the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

And the priests stood in their divisions, and the Levites with musical instruments of Yahweh, which David the king made to praise Yahweh, whose loyalty is eternal, when David gave praise by their hand, and the priests sounded trumpets before them as all Israel stood.

And Solomon consecrated the middle of the courtyard which was in front of the house of Yahweh, because there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of peace-offerings, because the bronze altar which Solomon made was unable to contain the burnt offerings, and the meal-offerings, and the fat.

And Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him, a massive assembly, from Lebo-Hamath to the river of Egypt.

And on the eighth day he called a solemn assembly, because they observed the dedication of the altar seven days, and the festival seven days.

And on the twenty-third day of the seventh month, he sent the people to their tents, rejoicing and glad-hearted because the good that Yahweh had done for David, and for Solomon, and for Israel his people.

And Solomon completed Yahweh's house, and the king's house, and all that Solomon had intended to do with the house of Yahweh, and with his own house, he carried out successfully.

And Yahweh appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him, I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice.

If I close up the sky and there is no rain, or if I command locusts to devour the land, or if I send a plague among my people;

and my people, who are called by my name, humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from the sky, and forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Thus my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer of this place.

And now I have chosen and consecrated this house for my name to be there forever, and my eyes and heart will be there for all days.

And as for you, if you walk before me as David your father walked, doing all that I have commanded you, and keep my statutes and judgments;

then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, You will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.

And if you turn way, and abandon my statutes and my commandments which I set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them;

I will uproot them from my land which I have given them, and I will cast this house, which I have consecrated for my name, out of my site, and make it an example of reproach among all the nations.

And this house, however exalted, will appall everyone who passes by, and he will say, Why has Yahweh done this to this land and to this house?

And they will answer, Because they abandoned Yahweh, the god of their fathers, who brought them out from the land of Egypt, and took hold of other gods, and worshipped them and served them. That is why he has brought all this disaster upon them.

Chapter 8
Now after twenty years in which Solomon built the house of God and his own house,

Solomon fortified the cities which Huram had given to Solomon, and settled Israelites there.

And Solomon went to Hamath Zobah, and prevailed against it.

And he built Tadmore in the wilderness, and all the storage cities which he built in Hamath.

And he built Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon, cities fortified with walls and doors and bars;

and Baalath, and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of horsemen, and all that Solomon desired, all that he desired to build in Jerusalem and in Lebanon, and all the land of his kingdom.

All the people who remained of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel,

of their descendants who were left after them in the land, whom the Israelites had not exterminated, Solomon made to pay tribute to this day.

But of the Israelites, Solomon made no slaves for his work, but they were his soldiers, and his chief captains, and captains of his chariotry and horsemen.

And these were the captains of King Solomon's officers, two hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people.

And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh from the city of David to the house which he had built for her, because he said, My wife will not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places where the ark of Yahweh has come are holy.

And Solomon offered burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar of Yahweh which he built in front of the portico,

at a daily rate, offering according to the command of Moses, for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for solemn feasts three times a year: at the feast of unleavened bread, and the feast of weeks, and the feast of booths.

And he appointed according to the command of David his father the courses of the priests for their service, and the Levites in their watches, to praise and minister before the priests for each day's business, and the gatekeepers by their courses at the various gates, for so David the man of god had commanded.

And they did not stray from the king's command to the priests and the Levites concerning anything, including the treasuries.

And all Solomon's business was established up to the day Yahweh's house was founded, and until its completion. And the house of Yahweh was completed.

Then Solomon went to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth, along the coast of the sea in the land of Edom.

And by the hand of his servants Huram sent him ships, and servants who knew the sea, and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took from there four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.

Chapter 9
Now the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, and came to test Solomon with difficult questions at Jerusalem, with a massive entourage, and camels bearing spices, and a great deal of gold and precious stones. And she came to Solomon, and discussed with him everything that was on her mind.

And Solomon answered all her questions, there was nothing so difficult for Solomon that he did not tell her.

And the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he built,

and the food of his table, and his servants sitting, and his ministers standing, and their clothing, and his butlers, and their clothing, and the ascent by which he went up to Yahweh's house, she was breathless.

And she said to the king, It is true, what I heard in my own land about your deeds, and about your wisdom,

but I did not believe what they were saying until I came and saw with my own eyes. I see that I was not told the half of your great wisdom. You are more impressive than even what I heard.

How fortunate are your men, and how fortunate your servants, who stand before you every day and hear your wisdom!

May Yahweh your god be blessed, who has seen fit to set you on his throne as Yahweh your god's king. It is because of Yahweh's love for Israel, to establish them forever, that he made you their king, to execute justice and decency.

And she gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and a great quantity of spices, and precious stones, and there never were spices like those who the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

Likewise, the servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum wood and precious stones.

And the king made the algum wood into walkways for the house of Yahweh and the king's house, and harps and lyres for singers, and none like them were seen before in the land of Judah.

And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba everything she desired, whatever she asked, besides what she had brought to the king. And she turned and went to her land, she and her servants.

Now the weight of gold which came to Solomon each year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,

besides what the men of tarim and the merchants brought in. And all the Arab kings and governors of the land brought gold and silver to Solomon.

And king Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold; six hundred [shekels] of beaten gold were used per shield.

And he made three hundred small shiefs of beaten gold; three hundred [shekels] of gold were used per shield. And the king placed them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

And the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with gold.

And the throne had six steps, and a golden footstool, which were fastened to the throne, and supports on each side of the seat, and two lions standing by the supports.

And twelve lions stood on either side of the six steps. There was nothing like it made in any kingdom.

And all the drinking vessels of King Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Silver was not thought of as worth anything in the days of Solomon,

because the king's ships would go to Tarshish with Huram's servants. Every third year the ships of Tarshish would come bringing gold and silver, ivory, and monkeys and peacocks.

And King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

And all the kings of the earth sought the face of Solomon, to hear his wisdom that God had placed in his heart.

And each one brought his tribute: silver things, and gold things, and clothing, weapons, and spices, horses and mules, at an annual rate.

Now Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he settled in the chariot cities, and with the king in Jerusalem.

He held sway over all the kings, from the River [Euphrates] as far as the Philistine land and the border of Egypt.

And the king made silver in Jerusalem like stones, and he made cedars like the sycamore trees of the Shephelah in abundance.

And they would bring horses from Egypt to Solomon, and from all lands.

And the rest of the deeds of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the words of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Jeddo the seer against Jeroboam son of Nebat?

And Solomon was king in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.

And Solomon rested with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father, and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

Chapter 10
And Rehoboam went to Shechem, because all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.

Now, when Jeroboam son of Nebat, then in Egypt where he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard of it, Jeroboam returned from Egypt.

And they sent and called for him. And Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,

Your father made our yoke harsh. Now then, lighten the harsh slavery of your father, and this heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.

And he said to them, Wait three days, then come back to me. And the people left.

And King Rehoboam took counsel with the elders who had stood before Solomon his father during his lifetime, saying, How do you advise me to reply to this people?

And they said to him, If you will be good to this people, and treat them favorably, and speak good words to them, they will serve you forever.

But he rejected the advice which they gave him, and took the advice of the young men who had grown up with him, and stood before him.

And he said to them, How do you advise that I reply to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Lighten this yoke which your father placed upon us?

And the young men who were brought up with him spoke to him, saying, This is what you should say to the people who spoke to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but you should lighten it upon us. This is what you should tell them: My little thing is thicker than my fathers loins.

Though my father may have placed a heavy yoke on you, I will add to it. My father beat you with whips, but I [will beat you] with scorpions.

And Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had told them to return to him on the third day.

And the king answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders,

and spoke to them as the young men advised, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father beat you with whips, but I [will beat you] with scorpions.

And the king did not listen to the people, because this was brought about by God, in order to confirm what Yahweh had spoken by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.

And all Israel [saw] that the king would not listen to them, and the people replied to the king, saying, What part do we have in David? And, We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Each to your tents, Israel! Now, David, see to your own house! So all Israel went to their tents.

But as for the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam ruled over them.

And King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, and the Israelites pelted him with stones, and he died. And King Rehoboam rushed up into his chariot and fled to Jerusalem.

And Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day.

Chapter 11
And Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, and he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin one hundred twenty thousand choice warriors to fight with Israel, to return the kingdom to Rehoboam.

Then a message from Yahweh came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Israel, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

Thus says Yahweh, You must not go up and fight against your brothers. Let each man return to his house, because this matter is from me. And they obeyed the words of Yahweh, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

And Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and fortified cities for defense in Judah.

And he fortified Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

and Beth-Zur, and Soco, and Adullam,

and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

and Zorah, and Ayalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.

And he strengthened the fortifications, and put rulers in them, and treasuries of food, and oil, and wine.

And in each city he put shields and spears, and strengthened them greatly, and had Judah and Benjamin on his side.

And the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel went out to him from all their territories,

for the Levites left their hinterlands and their landholdings, and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had dismissed them from Yahweh's priesthood.

And he ordained his own priests for the shrines, and for the demons, and for the calves which he had made.

And following them [came] from all the tribes of Israel those who had set their hearts on seeking Yahweh, the god of Israel, to sacrifice to Yahweh, the god of their fathers.

And they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and supported Rehoboam the son of Solomon for three years. For three years they walked in the path of David and Solomon.

And Rehoboam took himself as wife Mahalath daughter of Jerimoth son of David, [and] Abihail daughter of Eliab son of Jesse.

And she bore him sons: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.

And after her he took Maachah daughter of Absalom, and she bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

And Rehoboam loved Maachah daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines, for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

And Rehoboam gave the chief position to Abijah son of Maachah, as ruler among his brothers, because he intended for him to be king.

And wisely he dispersed some of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city, and he provided them with abundant food. And he desired many wives.

Chapter 12
Now, when Rehoboam had strengthened his hold on the kingdom, and become powerful, he abandoned the law of Yahweh, as did all Israel.

Then, in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had been unfaithful to Yahweh,

with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen, and innumerable people who came with him from Egypt: Lubim, Sukkim, and Cushites.

And he seized the fortified cities that belonged to Judah, and came as far as Jerusalem.

Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the princes of Judah who were gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, Thus said Yahweh: You have abandoned me, and therefore I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.

And the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves, and said, Yahweh is right.

And when Yahweh saw that they humbled themselves, a message from Yahweh came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will give them some deliverance, and my wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

Yet they will be his slaves, and they will know [the difference between] serving me and serving the kingdoms of the [surrounding] lands.

And Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took the treasures of Yahweh's house and the treasures of the king's house. He took them all, and he took the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

And King Rehoboam made in their place shields of bronze, and placed them in care of the leaders of the guard who kept watch at the entrance to the king's house.

Then whenever the king would enter the house of Yahweh, the guards would come in carrying them, and [afterward] return them to the guard-chamber.

And when he humbled himself, the wrath of Yahweh turned away from him, so as not to destroy him entirely, and things were good in Judah.

And King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned. For Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king, and reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city where Yahweh had chosen, out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name. And his mother's name was Naamah the Ammonitess.

And he did evil, because he did not set his heart on inquiring of Yahweh.

And the deeds of Rehoboam, first to last, are they not written in the words of Shemaiah the prophet and Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.

And Rehoboam rested with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David, and Abijah his son reigned in his place.

Chapter 13
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.

Three years he was king in Judah. His mother's name was Micaiah daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

And Abijah set an army of soldiers in array for battle, four hundred thousand choice young men.

And Abijah stood on Mt. Zemaraim, which is in the hill-country of Ephraim, and said, Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel.

Do you not know that Yahweh, the god of Israel, gave David kingship over Israel forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt?

And Jeroboam son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his master.

And worthless men of no account gathered around him, and strengthened themselves against Rehoboam son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.

And now you think you can withstand the kingdom of Yahweh in the hand of David's sons. You are a great crowd, and have with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made as gods for you.

Have you not expelled Yahweh's priests, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and made your own priests as the surrounding lands do? Whoever comes to contribute a young bull and seven rams can behold a priest to what are not gods.

But as for us, Yahweh is our god, and we have not abandoned him. And the priests who minister to Yahweh are sons of Aaron, and the Levites attend to them.

And send up burnt offerings in smoke to Yahweh every morning and every evening, and sweet incense. And they set the arrangement of bread in order on the pure table, and the golden menorah with its lamps to burn every evening, because we keep the observances of Yahweh our god, whom you have abandoned.

Therefore God is with us, leading us, and his priests and trumpets sounding out against you. Israelites, do not fight against Yahweh, the god of your fathers, because you will not succeed.

And Jeroboam set an ambush behind them, so that they were in front of Judah, and the ambush behind them.

And Judah turned and saw the battle front in front and behind, and they cried out to Yahweh, and the priests blew the trumpets.

And the men of Judah shouted, and when the men of Judah shouted, God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

And the Israelites fled before Judah, and God put them in their hands.

And Abijah and his people struck them with great slaughter, and five hundred thousand men of Israel fell mortally wounded.

And the Israelites were brought low at that time, and the Judahites were strengthened, because they relied on Yahweh, the god of their fathers.

And Abijah pursued Jeroboam, and took cities from him: Bethel and its dependencies, and Jeshanah and its dependencies, and Ephrain with its dependencies.

And Jeroboam did not grow strong again in the days of Abijah, and Yahweh struck him, and he died.

And Abijah grew stronger, and acquired fourteen wives, and begot twenty-two sons and sixteeen daughters.

And the rest of Abijah's deeds, and his ways, and his deeds, are written in the record of the prophet Iddo.

Chapter 14
And Abijah rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David, and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet for ten years.

And Asa did good and right in the eyes of Yahweh his god.

And he took away the foreign altars and the shrines, and shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherim.

And he commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the god of their fathers, and to observe the law and commandment.

And he removed from all the cities of Judah the shrines and the incense altars, and the kingdom was quiet before him.

And he fortified cities in Judah, because the land had quiet, and he saw no war in those years, because Yahweh had given him rest.

And he said to Judah, Let us fortify these cities, and build walls around them, and towers, and gates, and bars, because we have sought Yahweh our god. We have sought him, and he has given us rest all around. So they built and prospered.

Now, Asa had an army who carried large shields and spears, three hundred thousand of Judah; and from Judah two hundred eighty thousand who carried small shields and drew bows. And these were powerful warriors.

And Zerah the Cushite came out against them with one million [soldiers] and three hundred chariots, and came to Mareshah.

And Asa went out to meet him, and they arrayed themselves for battle in the valley of Zephathah toward Mareshah.

And Asa cried out to Yahweh his god, and said, Yahweh, there is no one but you who can help the weak against the mighty. Help us, Yahweh our god, because we rely on you, and in your name we go against this multitude. Yahweh, you are our god; do not let mere men prevail against you.

And Yahweh struck the Kushites before Asa and Judah, and the Kushites fled.

And Asa and the people with him pursued them as far as Gerar, and some of the Kushites fell, mortally wounded, because they were shattered before Yahweh and his army. And they carried away a great deal of plunder.

And they struck all the towns surrounding Gerar, because the terror of Yahweh came upon them, and they looted all the cities, because there was a great deal of loot in them.

They also struck the cattle-tents, and carried off a great deal of sheep and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.

Chapter 15
And the spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded,

and he went out before Asa, and said to him, Hear me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin! Yahweh is with you when you are with him, and if you seek him you will find him, but if you abandon him he will abandon you.

And for many days Israel was without a true god, and without a priest for instruction, and with Torah.

And they turned in their distress to Yahweh, the god of Israel. They looked for him, and they found him.

And in those times there was no peace, coming or going, but great disturbances upon the inhabitants of the lands.

Nation crushed nation, and one town another, because God cast them into all distress.

Now be strong, and let your hands not weaken, because your deeds will be rewarded.

And when Asa heard these things and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage and removed the abominations from all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and from all the cities which he had taken from the hill-country of Ephraim. And he rededicated the altar of Yahweh which was on Yahweh's portico.

And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the resident aliens with him from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon, all who defected to him from Israel in great numbers when they saw that Yahweh his god was with him.

And they gathered at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of Asa's reign.

And on that day they sacrificed to Yahweh some of the loot they brought: seven hundred cattle and seven hundred sheep.

And they entered into a covenant to seek Yahweh, the god of their fathers, with all their heart and all their soul.

And whoever did not seek Yahweh, the god of Israel, would be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.

And they swore to Yahweh with a loud voice, and with shouting, and trumpets, and shofars.

And all Judah celebrated the oath, because they had sworn whole-heartedly, and he was found by them, and Yahweh gave them rest on all sides.

And as for Maachah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed her as queen mother, because she had made an idol for Asherah. And Asa cut down her idol, and pulverized it, and burnt it at the wadi Kidron.

But the shrines were not removed from Israel, although Asa's heart was right all his days.

And he brought the things consecrated by his father and the things consecrated by himself into the house of God: silver, and gold, and other objects.

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

Chapter 16
In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and fortified the Ramah, so that no one should be able to pass toward or away from Asa king of Judah.

And Asa brought out silver and gold from the treasuries of Yahweh's house and the king's house, and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, saying,

There is a covenant between you and me, and between my father and your father. See, I have sent you silver and gold. Break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will leave me alone.

And Ben Hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the captains of his forces against the towns of Israel, and they struck Iyon, and Dan, and Abel Mayim, and all the supply towns of Naphtali.

Then, when Baasha heard, he ceased his fortifications at the Ramah, and stopped his work.

And Asa the king took all Judah, and they carried away the Ramah's stones and its timber, which Baasha was using for the fortifications, and with them he fortified Geba and the Mizpah.

And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, Because your relied on the king of Aram, and did not rely on Yahweh your god, this is why the forces of Aram have escaped your grasp.

Were not the Kushites and the Lubim an great force, with a massive number of horsemen and chariots? But when you relied on Yahweh, he handed them over to you.

For Yahweh's eyes dart back and forth throughout the whole world, to show strength for those perfectly devoted to him. In this you have been reckless, because from now on you will have wars.

And Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in prison, because this enranged him. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time.

Now, the deeds of Asa, from first to last, are surely written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

And Asa became ill in in the thirty-ninth year of his reign in his feet, until his illness was severe, and yet in his illness he did not seek out Yahweh, but the healers.

And Asa rested with his fathers, and died in the forty-first year of his reign.

And they buried him among his own graves that he had dug for himself in the City of David, and was laid in a bed filled with spices and various things compounded by perfumers. And they made a very great burning for him.

Chapter 17
And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel.

And he placed troops in all the towns of Judah, and placed garrisons in the land of Judah and in the towns of Ephraim which Asa his father had seized.

And Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the paths of David his father before him, and did not seek out the Baalim,

but rather the god of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not as Israel did.

And Yahweh strengthened the kingdom in his hand, and all Israel brought Jehoshaphat tribute, and he had great riches and honor.

And his heart was lifted up in the ways of Yahweh, and he even removed the shrines and Asherim from Judah.

And in the third year of his reign he sent for his officials, for Ben Hayil, and for Obadiah, and for Zechariah, and for Nethanel, and for Michaiah, to teach in the towns of Judah.

And with them were the Levites: Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asah-el, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobiah, and Tob Adonijah, Levites. And with them were Elishama and Jehoaram, priests.

And they taught in Judah, and the book of the law was with them, and they went about all the towns of Judah, and taught the people.

Then the terror of Yahweh was upon all the kingdoms of the lands which surrounded Judah, so that they would not make war against Jehoshaphat.

And some of the Philistines would bring Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute, and the Arabim brought him sheep and goats: seven thousand and seven hundred rams and seven hundred buck goats.

And Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger, to a great degree, and fortified citadels in Judah, and supply towns.

And he did a great deal of work in the towns of Judah, and there were mighty, valiant warriors in Jerusalem.

And these are their numbers by their paternal lineage. Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain and with him three hundred thousand mighty warriors.

And after him was captain Jonathan, and with him two hundred eighty thousand.

And after him Amasiah son of Zikri, who devoted himself to Yahweh, and with him two hundred thousand valiant soldiers.

And of Benjamin: Eliada, a valiant warrior, and with him two hundred thousand men armed with bows and shields.

And after him was Jehozabad, and with him were one hundred eighty thousand equipped for battle.

Those men were in the king's service, in addition to those the king placed in the fortified towns throughout Judah.

Chapter 18
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and married into the family of Ahab.

And after some years he went down to Ahab in Samaria. And Ahab slaughtered sheep and cattle for him in great numbers, and for the people he had with him, and persuaded him to go up to Ramoth Gilead.

And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you go up with me to Ramoth Gilead? We are allies, and so are our peoples, and we will be with you in battle.

And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Please, inquire of Yahweh today.

And the king of Israel gathered together the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, Should we go up to Ramoth Gilead for battle, or should I not?

And they said, Go up, and God will hand it over to the king.

And Jehoshaphat said, Is there no prophet of Yahweh here at all that we can inquire of?

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is still one man to inquire of Yahweh with, but I hate him, because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always evil. He is Micaiah son of Imla.

And Jehoshaphat said, May the king not speak this way!

And the king of Israel called for one of his officials, and said, Hurry! Bring me Micaiah son of Imla.

And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat each on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in the threshold at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied in front of them.

And Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made himself iron horns, and said, Thus said Yahweh: With these you will gore Aram until they are destroyed.

And all of them prophesied this way, saying, Go up to Ramoth Gilead, and you will succeed, and Yahweh will hand it over to you.

And the messenger who went to call for Micaiah said to him, Look, the words of the prophets in unison are favorable to the king. So please, let your words agree with theirs, and speak favorably.

And Micaiah said, By Yahweh's life, I will say whatever my god says to me.

And he came to the king, and the king said to him, Micah, should we go up to Ramoth Gilead for battle, or should I not?

And he said, Go up! You will succeed, and they will be handed over to you.

And the king said to him, How many times must I make you swear that you will tell me only the truth in Yahweh's name?

And he said, I saw all Israel scattered on the hills, like sheep without a shepherd. And Yahweh said, These have no master. Let everyone return to his house in peace.

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good about me, but ill?

And he said, Therefore heard Yahweh's message. I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the army of the sky standing at his right and his left.

And Yahweh said, Who will deceive Ahab king of Israel into going up and falling at Ramoth Gilead? And one said one thing, and another said something else.

And a spirit came forward and stood before Yahweh, and said, I will deceive him. And Yahweh said to him, How?

And he said, I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, You will deceive him successfully. Go and do it.

Therefore Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and Yahweh has spoken ill of you.

And Zedekiah son of Kenaanah approached and struck Micaiah on the cheeck, and said, Which way did the spirit of Yahweh go from me to speak to you?

And Micaiah said, Know for certain that you will see on the day you go from room to room hiding.

And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah and take him to Amon the mayor, and to Joash the king's son.

And say, Thus said the king, Put this man in prison, and feed him the bread of affliction and water of affliction until I return in peace.

And Micaiah said, If you should return in peace, then Yahweh has not spoken through me.

And he said, Listen, all you people!

And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will go to battle in disguise, but you put on your robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself and went to battle.

Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot captains who were with him, saying, Do not fight against anyone small or great, but only against the king of Israel.

Then, when the chariot captains saw Jehoshaphat, they said, The king of Israel! And they surrounded him to fight, but Jehoshaphat cried out and Yahweh helped him, and God made them leave him alone.

Then the chariot captains saw that he was not the king of Israel, and they turned back from following him.

But someone drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the seams of his armor. And he said to the charioteer, Turn and carry me out from the battle, because I am wounded.

And the battle became stronger that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in the chariot facing the Syrians until evening, and at sundown he died.

Chapter 19
And Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned to his house in peace at Jerusalem.

And Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to the king, Should you assist the wicked, and love those who hate Yahweh? So this is why Yahweh's anger is upon you.

Yet there are some good things about you still, because you have burned out the Asherim from the land, and have prepared your heard to seek out God.

And Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and went out again among the people from Beer Sheba to the hill-country of Ephraim, and brought them back to Yahweh, the god of their fathers.

And he appointed judges in the land through all the fortified towns of Judah, town by town,

and said to the judges, Be careful what you do, because it is not for humans that you judge, but for Yahweh, who is with you in judicial matters.

So let the terror of Yahweh be upon you. Observe it carefully, because there is no injustice with Yahweh, nor favoritism, nor taking bribes.

And it was in Jerusalem that Jehoshaphat stationed some of the Levites, and the priests, and some of the paternal heads of Israel, for Yahweh's justice and for lawsuits. And he returned to Jerusalem.

And he commanded them, saying, You must do this with the fear of Yahweh, with integrity and right intentions.

And whatever suit should come before you from your brethren living in their towns, whether concerning bloodshed, or the law, or the commandments, or the statutes, or customs, you must admonish them not to transgress against Yahweh, or wrath will come upon you and upon your brethren. Do this, and you will not trespass.

Indeed, Amariah the priest is your leader over all the matters concerning Yahweh, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all matters concerning the king. And the Levites will serve as officials before you. Be strong, and Yahweh will be with those who are good.

Chapter 20
Now, after this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle.

And they came and reported it to Jehoshaphat, saying, A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Aram, and they are now in Hazazon Tamar, which is Ein Gedi.

And Jehoshaphat was afraid, and determined to seek out Yahweh, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

And Judah gathered themselves to seek Yahweh, and indeed, from all the towns of Judah they came to seek Yahweh.

And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Yahweh, in front of the new courtyard,

and said, Yahweh, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the earth. In your hand are power and greatness, and none can withstand you.

And are you not our god, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and gave it to the offspring of Abraham your lover forever?

And they settled in it, and built you a sanctuary in it for your name, saying,

If catastrophe befalls us: sword, judgment, and plague, and famine, we will stand before this house and before you, because your name is in this house, and cry to you in our distress, and you will hear and help.

Now see: the people of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you did not let Israel invade when they came from Egypt's land, so that they turned from them and did not destroy them;

see how they treat us, coming to disposses us from your inheritance which you gave us to inherit.

Our god, will you not execute judgment against them? For we have no strength before this great mob coming against us, and we do not know what to do, but we look to you.

And all Judah stood before Yahweh, along with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

And Jahaziel son of Zechariah son of Benaiah son of Jeiel son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, was overtaken by the spirit of Yahweh in the middle of the assembly,

and he said, Listen, all Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and king Jehoshaphat! This is what Yahweh says to you. Do not be afraid or frightened before this great mob, because the battle is not yours, but God's.

Tomorrow, go down against them. Indeed, they will go up along the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the wadi in front of the wilderness of Jeruel.

It is not yours to fight now. Stand still and see the victory of Yahweh alongside you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or frightened. Go out against them tomorrow, and Yahweh will be with you.

And Jehoshaphat bowed his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before Yahweh, doing homage to Yahweh.

And the Levites of the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korhites rose to praise Yahweh, the god of Israel, with a loud voice directed upwards.

And they rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa, and as they went out Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Trust in Yahweh your god, and you will be secure. Trust in his prophets, and you will succeed.

And he took counsel with the people, and appointed people to sing for Yahweh, and to give praise in holy attire as they went out ahead of the army, and saying, Praise Yahweh, because his loyalty is unending.

And when they began to shout with joy and praise, Yahweh set ambushes against the people of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir as they were coming toward Judah, and they were struck down.

And the people of Ammon and Moab stood against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to exterminate and destroy them. And when they had finished them off, they each set to destroy each other.

And Judah came to the Mizpeh toward the wilderness, and they turned toward the horde, and there they were, corpses, fallen to the ground, and none had escaped.

And Jehoshaphat came with his people to plunder the spoils, and they found among them a great deal of property and corpses, and precious objects, and they stripped them off, more than they could carry, and they were three days plundering the spoils, because there was so much.

And on the fourth day they assembled at the Valley of Blessing, because there they blessed Yahweh. Therefore that place is named the Valley of Blessing to this day.

And all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned, with Jehoshaphat leading them on as they returned to Jerusalem with rejoicing, because Yahweh made them rejoice over their enemies.

And they came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets to the house of Yahweh.

And the terror of Yahweh was upon all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that Yahweh had fought against the enemies of Israel.

And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, and his god gave him peace all around.

And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.

And he walked in the path of his father Asa, and did not turn away from it, doing what was right in the eyes of Yahweh.

Yet he did not remove the bamot-shrines, and the people had not yet turned their hearts to the god of their fathers.

And the rest of the deeds of Jehoshaphat, first and last, are assuredly written in the words of Jehu ben Hanani, which is inserted in the book of the kings of Israel.

And afterwards Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly.

He allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made ships at Ezion Geber.

And Eliezer ben Dodavahu of Maresha prophesied concerning Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, Yahweh has broken your projects. And the boats were shattered, and were unable to go to Tarshish.

Chapter 21
And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David, and his son Jehoram reigned in his place.

And his brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah. All these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.

And their father gave them great gifts of silver and gold and valuable things, with fortified cities in Judah. But the kingdom he gave to Jehoram, because he was the eldest.

And Jehoram arose over the kingdom of his father and strengthened himself, and killed all his brothers with the sword, and some of the leaders of Israel.

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

And he walked in the path of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab did, because he was married to Ahab's daughter, and he did evil in the eyes of Yahweh.

But Yahweh was unwilling to destroy the house of David on account of the covenant which he made with David, and because he said he would give a lamp to him and his sons forever.

In his days Edom rebelled from under the hand of Judah, and they crowned a king for themselves.

And Jehoram went across with his commanders and all the chariots with him, and struck Edom all around him, and their chariot commanders.

And Edom has been in rebellion from under the hand of Judah to this day. Then Libnah rebelled also at that time from under his hand, because he had abandoned Yahweh, the god of his fathers.

And he also made bamot-shrines in the hills of Judah, and he whored out the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and lead Judah astray.

And there came to him a writing by Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus says Yahweh, the god of David your father. Because you have not walked in the paths of Jehoshaphat your father, and in the paths of Asa king of Judah,

but have walked in the path of the kings of Israel, and whored out Judah and the inhabitants of Judah, as the house of Ahab whored themselves out, and have killed the brothers of your father's house, who were better than you;

behold, Yahweh will strike you with a great plague among your people, and your sons, and your wives, and all your property.

And you will have great illnesses, illnesses of your intestines, until your intestines come out on account of the illness day by day.

And Yahweh aroused the spirit of the Philistines against Jehoram, and the Arabim who were near the Kushites.

And they went up against Judah and broke into it, and carried off all the property found in the king's house, and also his sons and his swives, and they left him no son but Jehoahaz the youngest.

And after all this Yahweh struck him in his intestines with an incurable illness.

And so, day by day, as time passed, at the end of two years his intestines came out by means of his illness, and he died of severe diseases. And his people did not make a burning for him like the burnings of his fathers.

He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem, and he was disliked, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the royal tombs.

Chapter 22
And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, because all the older ones were killed by the raiding party of Arabim that had come to the army. And Ahaziah son of Jehoram ruled as king of Judah.

Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he became king, and he ruled one years in Jerusalem. And the name of his mother was Athaliah daughter of Omri.

He also walked in the paths of the house of Ahab, because his mother advised him to do evil.

And he did evil in the eyes of Yahweh, like the house of Ahab, because they were his advisors after the death of his father, and proved to be his undoing.

He did as they advised, and Jehoram son of Ahab, king of Israel, went to war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth Gilead and the Arameans wounded Joram.

And he went back to recuperate at Jezreel on account of the wounds which he received at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Aram, and Azariah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was ill.

And Ahaziah's downfall was divinely ordained as he came to Joram. And when he came, he went out with Jehoram toward Jehu ben Nimshi, whom Yahweh annointed to cut off the house of Ahab.

Now, when Jehu was executing judgment against the house of Ahab, he found the leaders of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers who attended to Ahaziah, and killed them.

And he searched for Ahaziah and captured him as he was hiding in Samaria, and brought him to Jehu, and killed him, and buried him, for he said, he is a son of Jehoshaphat, who sought Yahweh with his whole heart. And the house of Ahaziah was unable to retain the kingdom.

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

And Jehoshabat, the daughter of the king, took Joash son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's deceased sons, and put him and his nurse in a bedroom, and Jehoshabat the king's daughter hid Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, because she was the sister of Ahaziah, from Athaliah. And he was not killed.

And he was with them in the house of God hiding for six years, as Athaliah ruled over the land.

Chapter 23
And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself and made an alliance with the captains of hundreds belonging to Azariah ben Jeroham, to Ishmael ben Jonathan, to Azariah ben Obed, to Maaseiah ben Adaiah, and to Eliashib ben Zikri.

And they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the towns of Judah, and the paternal heads of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

And all the assembly made a covenant in the house of God with the king, and he said to them, Now the king's son will reign, just as Yahweh promised concerning the sons of David.

This is what you must do. A third of you who go out on the Sabbath, of the priests and the Levites, will guard the entrances.

And a third will be in the king's house, and a third at the foundation gate, and all the soldiers with trumpets in the house of God.

None is enter the house of Yahweh but the priests and the ministering Levites. They will go in, because they are holy, but all the people must observe Yahweh's command.

And the Levites will surround the king on all sides, each carrying his weapons, and whoever enters the temple will be killed. They will accompany the king wherever he goes.

And the Levites and all Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest commanded, and each one took his men, both those who went in on the Sabbath and those who went out on the Sabbath, because Jehoiada had not dismissed the courses.

And Jehoiada the priest gave the captains of hundreds javelins and shields of both sizes, which had belonged to King David and were in the house of God.

And all the people stood, each holding his spear, from the north side of the temple to the south side of the temple, toward the altar and toward the house all around the king.

And they brought out the king's son and placed upon him the crown, and the testimony, and they made him king, and they annointed Jehoiada and his sons, and they said, Long live the king!

When Athaliah heard the sound of the people running and praising the king, she went out to the people of the house of Judah.

And she looked and saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and trumpets beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced and blew on the trumpets, and the singers with musical instruments, leading the singing of praise. And Athaliah tore her clothes, and said, Treason! Treason!

And Jehoiada the priest went out with the captains of hundreds who oversaw the army, and said to them, bring her outside the sederot, and whoever follows her, let him be killed with the sword. For the priest said, Do not kill her in the house of Yahweh.

So they put their hands on her, and when she reached the gate where horses would enter the king's house, they killed her there.

And Jehoiada solemnized a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would become Yahweh's people.

And all the people came to the house of the Baal and demolished it, and shattered its altars and images, and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.

And Jehoiada appointed overseers for the house of Yahweh under the supervision of the priests, the Levites, as David appointed for the house of Yahweh, to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh as written in the law of Moses, with joy and signing as David had directed.

And the gatekeepers stood by the gates of the house of Yahweh, and no one at all unclean was to enter.

And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, andthe rulers among the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of Yahweh, and they came through the Upper Gate to the king's house, and the king sat on the royal throne.

And all the people of the land rejoices, and the city was quiet. They had killed Athaliah with the sword.

Chapter 24
Joash was seven years old when he became king, and forty years he reigned in Jerusalem. And the name of his mother was Zibiah of Beersheba.

And Joash did what was right in Yahweh's eyes all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

And Jehoiada took two wives, and begot sons and daughters.

Now, after this, Joash decided to restore the house of Yahweh.

And he gathered the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out to the cities of Judah, and collect silver from all Israel to repair the house of your god, year by year, and do it with haste. But the Levites did not do it with haste.

And the king called for the leader, Jehoiada, and said to him, Why have you not required the Levites to bring from Judah and from Jerusalem the tax of Yahweh's servant Moses, and of the assembly of Israel, to the tent of meeting.

For the sons of the wicked Athaliah had broken into the house of God, and had given all the sacred things of Yahweh's house to the Baalim.

And at the king's command, they made a single chest, and set it outside the gate of Yahweh's house.

And they made an announcement in Judah and Jerusalem, to collect for Yahweh the tax Moses had levied on Israel in the wilderness.

And all the singers and all the people rejoiced, and they brought it and cast it into the box until they were finished.

Then when the chest was brought to the king's overseer by the Levites, and when they saw that there was a great deal of silver, the king's scribe and the chief supervising priest came and emptied the chest, and carried it back to its place. They did so every day, and a great deal of silver was collected.

And the king and Jehoiada disbursed it for the workers carrying out the business of Yahweh's house. And they hired stone and wood workers to restore the house of Yahweh, and also iron and bronze workers, to repair the house of Yahweh.

So the workers carried out the work, and the repairs proceeded in their hands, and steadily they strengthened it.

And when they were finished, they brought the king and Jehoiada the rest of the silver, and they made implements for the house of Yahweh, implements for ministry and burnt offerings, and spoons, and implements of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings continually through all Jehoiada's days.

And Jehoiada grew old, and well along in age, and died at the age of one hundred thirty.

And they buried him in the City of David with the kings, because he did good in Israel, and concerning God and his house.

And after the death of Jehoiada, the nobles of Judah came and bowed down to the king. Then the king listened to them,

and they abandoned the house of Yahweh, the god of their fathers, and they served the Asherim and the idols. And there was wrath upon Judah and Jerusalem because of this evil.

And he sent prophets among them, to return them to Yahweh, and they testified against them, but they would not listen.

And the spirit of God possessed Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, Thus says God: Why have you trespassed against the commandments of Yahweh, so that you cannot flourish? Because you abandoned Yahweh, he has abandoned you.

And they plotted against him and killed him with stones at the command of the king, in the courtyard of Yahweh's house.

And Joash the king did not remember Jehoiada's loyalty to him, and he killed his son. And as he died, he said, May Yahweh see and punish.

Then, at the end of the year, the army of Aram went up against him, and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and they slaughtered all the nobles of the people from among the people, and sent all their loot to the king of Damascus.

For with a few people the army of Aram came, and Yahweh delivered a very large army into their hand, because they abandoned Yahweh, the god of their fathers. They executed judgment on Joash.

And when they left -- for they left him very ill -- his servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him in his bed. He died, and they buried him in the City of David, but not among the royal tombs.

And these are the conspirators against him: Zabad ben Shimeah the Ammonite and Jehozabad ben Shimrit the Moabite.

As for his songs, and the heavy prophecy against him, and the foundation of God's house, indeed, they are written in the treatise of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

Chapter 25
Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and for twenty years he reigned in Jerusalem. And the name of his mother was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

And he did what was right in Yahweh's eyes, although not wholeheartedly.

And when the kingdom was firmly in his hands, he killed the officials of his who had killed his father the king.

But their sons he did not kill, because of what is written in the book of Moses, whom Yahweh commanded, saying, Fathers are not to be put to death for sons, nor sons put to death for fathers; for a man is to be put to death for his own sin.

And Amaziah gathered Judah, and mustered them by family, with captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, of all Judah and Benjamin, and he mustered them from twenty years old and above. And he found them to be three hundred thousand fit for battle, carrying shield and spear.

And from Israel he hired one hundred thousand warriors for one hundred talents of silver.

And a man of God came to him, saying, O King, do not let the army of Israel go with you, because God is not with Israel, all the sons of Israel.

Instead, go yourself. Do it. Strengthen yourself for battle. God will cast you down before the enemy, because God has the strength to help or to cast down.

And Amaziah said to the man of God, And what am I to do about the hundred talents that I gave the troops of Israel?

And the man of God said, Yahweh can give you more than that.

And Amaziah dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim to their homes. And their anger burned hot against Judah, and they returned angry to their homes.

And Amaziah took courage, and lead out his people, and went to the Valley of Salt, and killed of the people of Seir ten thousand.

And the Judahites took ten thousand survivors captive, and brought them to the edge of a cliff, and tossed them from the top of the cliff, and they all burst open.

And the soldiers whom Amaziah dismissed from accompanying him to battle raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon, killed three thousand people, and plundered a great deal of plunder.

Then, when Amaziah had returned from defeating the Edomites, he brought the gods of the people of Seir and set them up as his gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them.

And Yahweh's wrath burned hot against Amaziah, and he sent him a prophet, who said to him, Why do you seek out the gods of the this people, who failed to rescue their people from your hand?

And as he was speaking to him, he said to him, Have we made you the king's advisor? Stop! Do you want to die?

And the prophet stopped, but said, I know that God has decided to destroy you because you have done this. But he would not listen to his advice.

And Amaziah king of Judah took counsel, and sent word to Joash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come let us see each other in person.

And Joash king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thornbush that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar which was in Lebanon, saying, Give me your daughter to be my son's wife. Then a wild animal which was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thornbush.

You say that, look, you have defeated Edom, and your pompous heart swells. Now turn and go home. Why should you get over-excited and cause a disaster, and fall, both you and Judah with you.

And Amaziah would not listen, because it was God's intention to bring them defeat, because they had sought after the gods of Edom.

And Joash king of Israel went up and saw Amaziah king of Israel face to face at Beth Shemesh, which belonged to Judah.

And Judah was routed before Israel, and they all fled home.

And Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Israel, son of Joash, son of Jehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and they broke down its wall from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate: four hundred cubits.

And he took all the gold and the silver and the objects which were found in the house of God with Obed Edom, and the treasuries of the king's house, to Samaria.

And Amaziah son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years.

And the rest of Amaziah's deeds, first to last, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?

And when Amaziah turned away from Yahweh after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, they hatched a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. And they sent men after him to Lachish, and killed him.

And they carried him on horseback, and buried him with his fathers in the City of David.

Chapter 26
And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and they made him king in place of his father Amaziah.

And he built Eloth and restored it to Judah after the king rested with his fathers.

Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and fifty-two years he reigned in Jerusalem. And the name of his mother was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.

And he did was was right in Yahweh's eyes, just as his father Amaziah did.

He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who taught the fear of God, and in the days that they sought Yahweh, God made them prosper.

And he went out and fought against the Philistines, and they breached the wall of Gath, and the wall of Yavne, and the wall of Ashdod, and he built carries in Ashdod and among the Philistines.

And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabim who lived in Gur-baal, and the Ammonites.

And the Ammonites presented tribute to Uzziah, and his name spread to Lebo-Mizraim, because he great extremely powerful.

And Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem along the Corner Gate, and upon the Valley Gate, and upon the corner, and he fortified them.

And he built towers in the wilderness, and dug many cisterns, because he had a great deal of livestock, and in the Shfela, and in the plain. [He had] farmers and vineyard-keepers in the hills and fertile lands, because he loved the soil.

And Uzziah had a force of soldiers who would go out by their detachments according to the muster conducted by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the recorder under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king's commanders.

The whole number of clan leaders among the warriors was one thousand six hundred.

And under their hands was a fighting force of three hundred seven thousand, five hundred who made war with great force to aid the king against the enemy.

And Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, and lances, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, slings for stones.

And in Jerusalem he made ingenious devices, invented by ingenious men, to set on the towers, and on the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his fame spread out abroad, because of the marvelous help which strengthened him.

And when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he corrupted himself and betrayed Yahweh his god, and he came to the temple of Yahweh to offer incense upon the altar.

And Azariah the priest went in after him, and some priests of Yahweh after him, eight brave men.

And they stood against Uzziah the king, and said to him, Uzziah, you must not go to offer incense to Yahweh, because it is the priests descended from Aaron who are consecrated to offer incense. Leave the sanctuary, because this is rebellion, and it will not bring you honor from Yahweh God.

And Uzziah was angry. He was holding a censer in his hand, and while he was angry with the priests, tzaarath broke out on his forehead in front of the priests in the house of Yahweh, beside the altar of incense.

And the high priest Azariah turned to him, as did all the priests, and there he was: afflicted with tzaarath on his forehead, and they hurried him out; he himself hurried out, because Yahweh had struck him.

And Uzziah the king was afflicted with tzaarath until the day he died, and he lived in an isolated house near the palace, because he was cut off from Yahweh's house. And Jotham his son was in the king's house, ruling over the people of the land.

And the rest of Uzziah's deeds, first to last, were written by the prophet Isaiah ben Amoz.

And Uzziah rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the burial plot which belonged to the kings, because they said, He had tzaarath. And Jotham his son reigned in his place.

Chapter 27
Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And the name of his mother was Jerushah, daughter of Zadok.

And he did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, just as his father Uzziah had done, except that he did not go into the temple of Yahweh. And yet the people acted corruptly.

He built the upper gate of Yahweh's house, and he built a great deal on the Ophel wall.

And he built walled towns in the hills of Judah, and he built forts and towers in the forests.

And he fought against the king of the Ammonites and prevailed against them. And in that year the people of Ammon gave him one hundred talents of silver and ten thousand kors of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. This is what the people of Ammon brought him, as well as the second and third year.

And he grew strong, because he took care to walk before Yahweh his god.

And the rest of Jotham's deeds, and all his wars, and his ways: they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

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

And Jotham rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

Chapter 28
Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and sixteen years he reigned in Jerusalem. And he did not do right in the eyes of Yahweh like David his father.

And he walked in the path of the kings of Israel, and made drink-offerings to the Baalim.

And he burned incense in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, and burned his sons in he fire, following the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh drove out before the Israelites.

And he sacrificed and burned incense at the bamot-shrines and on the hills, and under every leafy tree.

And Yahweh his god handed him over to Aram, and they defeated him and took many of his people captive and took them to Damascus. And he was also handed over to the king of Israel, who struck him with great slaughter.

And Pekah ben Remaliah killed one hundred twenty thousand Judahites, all of them brave men, because he abandoned Yahweh, the god of his fathers.

And Zikri, a warrior from Ephraim, killed the king's son Maaseiah and the household manager Azriqam, and the king's second-in-command Elkanah.

And the Israelites took captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and they looted a great deal of plunder from them, and they brought the plunder to Samaria.

And a prophet of Yahweh was there, named Oded, and he went out in front of the army as it was going to Samaria, and said to them, Look! In his anger against Judah, Yahweh, the god of your fathers, handed them over to you, and you have killed them with a rage that touches the sky.

But now, men of Judah and Jerusalem, you plan to subdue them as male and female slaves for yourselves. But do you not have trespasses of your own against your god Yahweh?

Now hear me, and release the captives you have captured among your brothers, because of Yahweh's burning anger against you.

Then men arose from among the leaders of the Ephraimites: Azariah ben Jonathan, Berechiah ben Meshillemoth, and Hezekiah ben Shallum, and Amasa ben Hadlai, stood up to those who were returned from the war,

and said to them, Do not bring the captives here, because we are guilty before Yahweh. You would increase our sins and our guilt, though we are very guilty, and there is great wrath against Israel.

So the armed men left the captives and the loot before the nobles and all the assembly.

And the men named above rose and took the captives, and with the plunder clothed all who were naked; clothed them, and sandaled them, and fed them, and gave them to drink, and anointed them, and led all those who stumbled on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the City of Palms, near their brethren. And they returned to Samaria.

At that time King Ahaz sent the kings of Assyria a request for help,

because the Edomites had come and attacked Judah and taken captives,

and Philistines had raided among the towns of the Shfela and the Negev of Judah, and seized Beth Shemesh, and Ayalon, and Gedorot, and Soco and its villages, and Timnah and its villages, and Gimzo and its villages, and settled there.

For Yahweh was humbling Judah on account of Ahaz king of Israel, because behaved recklessly in Judah, and betrayed Yahweh.

And Tiglath Pilneser, king of Assyria, came and distressed him, and did not strengthen him,

although Ahaz had plundered Yahweh's house and the house of the king and the nobles, but to no avail.

And as he was in distress, he rebelled further against Yahweh, that is, king Ahaz.

And he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, who had attacked him, and he said, Because the gods of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them, and they will help me. And they the downfall of him and all Israel.

And Ahaz collected the things in the house of God, and cut up the objects of God's house, and closed the doors of Yahweh's house, and made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.

And throughout all the towns of Judah he made bamot-shrines for burning incense to other gods, and offended Yahweh, the god of his fathers.

And the rest of his deeds, and all his ways, first and last, indeed, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

And Ahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried in the city, in Jerusalem, although they did not put him in the tombs of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

Chapter 29
Hezekiah became king at twenty-five years old, and reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And the name of his mother was Abiah daughter of Zechariah.

And he did right in Yahweh's eyes, just as his father David had done.

He, in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of Yahweh's house, and strengthened them.

And he brought the priests and the Levites, and assembled them in the open space on the east side,

and said to them, Hear me, Levites. Consecrate yourselves and consecrate the house of Yahweh, the god of your fathers, and remove impurity from the sanctuary.

For our fathers were unfaithful, and did evil in our god Yahweh's eyes, and abandoned him, and turned their faces away from Yahweh's residence, and turned their backs.

They even shut the doors of the portico, and extinguished the lamps. They did not offer incense or burnt offerings in the sanctuary of Israel's god.

Yahweh raged against Judah and Jerusalem, and gave them over to terror and astonishment and hissing, and you see with your eyes.

Indeed, our fathers have fallen by sword, and our sons, and our daughters, and our wives into captivity for this reason.

Now I have determined to make a covenant with Yahweh, Israel's god, so that he will turn back his fierce anger.

My sons, do not be negligent, because Yahweh has chosen you to stand before him, to minister, and to be his ministers and offer incense.

And the Levites rose: Mahath ben Amasai and Joel ben Azariah of the sons of Kohath; and of the sons of Merari, Kish ben Abdi and Azariah ben Jehalelel; and of the sons of the Gershunites, Joah ben Zimmah and Eden ben Joah.

And of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah.

And of the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei.

And of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.

And they assembled their brethren and consecrated themselves, and went in as the king commanded by the words of Yahweh to purify Yahweh's house.

And the priests went to the inside of Yahweh's house to purify it, and they brought out all impurity that was found in the temple of Yahweh to the courtyard of Yahweh's house, and the Levites took them away to the brook Kidron outside.

And they began in unison in the first month to consecrate, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the Yahweh's portico, and they consecrated Yahweh's house on the eighth day, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they were finished.

And they went inside to Hezekiah the king, and they said, We have purified all Yahweh's house: the altar of burnt offerings and all its implements, and the table of arrangement and all its implements,

and we have set up and consecrated all the objects with king Ahaz removed during the rebellion of his reign, and they are now in front of the altar of Yahweh.

And Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered all the city's nobles, and went to Yahweh's house.

And they brought seven bulls, and seven rams, and seven rams as a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah, and he told the sons of Aaron, the priests, to offer burnt offerings on Yahweh's altar.

And they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it onto the altar, and they slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar, and they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkles the blood on the altar.

And they brought the goats of the sin-offering before the king and the congregation, and laid their hands upon them.

And the priests slaughtered them and placed their blood on the altar for removal of sin, to atone for all Israel, because the king commanded that the burnt offerings and sin offerings be for all Israel.

And the Levites stood in Yahweh's house with cymbals and harps and lyres, following the commandment of David, and of Gad, the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet, because the command came from God through his prophets.

And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with trumpets.

And Hezekiah commanded that burnt offerings be offered for the altar. And when the offerings began, Yahweh's song began, and the trumpets, with the instruments of Israel's king David.

And all the congregated bowed down, singing the song and sounding the trumpets, all continuing till the burnt offering was finished.

And when the burnt offerings were finished, the king and all who were present with him kneeled and did homage.

And Hezekiah the king, and the leaders of the Levites commanded that Yahweh should be praised with the words of David and Asaph the seer, and they praised with rejoicing, and bowed their heads and did homage.

And Hezekiah replied and said, Fill your hands for Yahweh. Come bringing sacrifices and praise-offerings to Yahweh's house. And the congregation brought sacrifices and praise-offerings, and whoever had a willing heart [brought] burnt offerings.

Now the numbers of burnt offerings that the congregation brought was seven cattle, one hundred rams, and two hundred young rams for burnt offering to Yahweh, all these.

And six hundred cattle and three thousand small cattle were consecrated.

But the priests were to few to process all the burnt offerings, so their brethren the Levites helped them until the work was finished, and until they the priests had consecrated themselves, because the Levites were more conscientious about consecrating themselves than the priests.

Yes, and the burnt offerings were many, with the fat of the peace-offerings, and with libations to accompany the burnt offerings. So the service of Yahweh's house was set in order.

And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, over what God had set in place for the people, because this was all done suddenly.

Chapter 30
And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, [urging them] to come to Yahweh's house in Jerusalem to observe the passover to Yahweh, the god of Israel.

Andthe king, and his nobles, and all the congregation in Jerusalem resolved to observe the passover in the second month,

because they had not been able to observe it then, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves, and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem.

So this decision seemed right in the view of the king and in the view of all the congregation.

So they decided to send a decree throughout all Israel from Beersheba to Dan, [urging people] to come to observe the passover to Yahweh, the god of Israel, in Jerusalem, for not many had been observing it as written.

And the messengers went with the letters from the hand of the king and his nobles throughout all Israel and Judah, and as the king had commanded, saying, Sons of Israel, return to Yahweh, the god of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he may return to the remnant of you who have escaped the hand of the kings of Assyria.

And do not be like your fathers and your brethren who rebelled against Yahweh, the god of your fathers, who turned them into a desolation, and you can see.

And do not harden your necks like your fathers. Submit to Yahweh and come to his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever, and serve Yahweh your God, and turn his fierce anger away from you.

If you return to Yahweh, your brethren and your sons will be given compassion by their captors, and return to this land. Because Yahweh your god is kind and compassionate, and will not turn his face from you if you turn to him.

But as the messengers were traveling from city to city in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, they were mocked and ridiculed.

But some men from Asher and Manasseh, and from Zebulun, humbled them and came to Jerusalem.

Likewise, in Judah, Yahweh's hand gave them one heart to observe the command of the king and nobles concerning Yahweh's message.

And a great company gathered in Jerusalem to observe the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a massive congregation.

And they rose and removed the altars which were in Jerusalem, and they removed all the incense-altars, and tossed them into the brook Kidron.

And they slaughtered the passover [lamb] on the fourteenth of the second month, and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and consecrated themselves, and brought burnt offerings to Yahweh's house.

And standing in their place as specified in the law of Moses, the man of God, the priests sprinkled the blood they received from the Levites.

Because many in the congregation had not consecrated themselves, the Levites took charge of slaughter the passover [lambs] for all those who were not clean, to make it holy for Yahweh.

Because most of the people -- many from Ephraim, and Manasseh, and Issachar, and Zebulun -- had not purified themselves, still they ate the passover, not as written, because Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, The good Yahweh will atone for

whoever prepares his heart to seek God, Yahweh, the god of his fathers, although not purified in the sanctuary way.

And Yahweh heard Hezekiah, and healed the people.

And the Israelites who were present in Jerusalem kept the festival of unleavened bread for seven days with great rejoicing, and each day the Levites and the priests praised Yahweh on loud instruments for Yahweh.

And Hezekiah spoke kindly to the Levites who had a good understanding of what pertains to Yahweh. And they ate the feast for seven days: sacrifices of peace-offerings, and free-will offerings to Yahweh, the god of their fathers.

And the whole congregations resolved to observe another seven days, and they observed seven days with rejoicing,

because Hezekiah, king of Judah, set aside for the congregation a thousand bulls and seven thousand small cattle.

And the nobles set aside for the congregation a thousand bulls and ten thousand small cattle, and many priests consecrated themselves.

And all the congregation of Judah, and the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation who had come from Israel, and the resident aliens who had come from Israel, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem rejoiced.

There was great rejoicing in Jerusalem, because from the days of Solomon son of David, king of Israel, there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.

And the priests, the Levites, arose and blessed the people, and they heard their voice, and their prayers came to his holy habitation in the sky.

Chapter 31
Now when all this was completed, all of Israel who were present went through the cities of Judah and broke the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherim, and tore down the bamot-shrines and the altars from all Judah and Benjamin, and in Ephraim and Manasseh until it was complete. And all the people of Israel returned to their own cities, each to his own plot of land.

And Hezekiah instituted the courses of the priests and the Levites by their courses, each to his service, for the priests and for the Levites, for burnt offerings, and for peace-offerings, to minister and praise and pray in the gates of Yahweh's encampments;

and the king's portion from his estate for burnt offerings, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and for the burnt offerings for sabbaths and new moons, and for the festivals as written in the law of Yahweh.

And he told the people who lived in Jerusalem to give a portion to the priests and the Levites in order to strengthen them in Yahweh's law.

And as this message spread, the Israelites gave great quantities: first-fruits of grain, new wine, and oil, and honey, and all sorts of produce, and tithes. They brought it all in great amounts.

And the people of Israel and Judah who lived in Judah's towns, they also tithed cattle, sheep, and goats, and the tithe of consecrated things which were consecrated to Yahweh their god. They brought heaps upon heaps.

In the third month they began piling up the heaps, and in the seventh month they were complete.

And Hezekiah and the nobles went and saw the heaps, and blessed Yahweh and his people Israel.

And Hezekiah inquired of the priests and the Levites about the heaps.

And Azariah, the chief priest of the Zadokite house, said to to him, From when they began to bring contributions to Yahweh's house, there has been plenty to eat, and a great deal left over, because Yahweh has blessed his people, and what is left is this great mass.

And Hezekiah ordered that chambers be prepared in Yahweh's house, and they prepared them.

And they brought the contributions and the tithes and the consecrated things faithfully. And they were under the leadership of Conaniah the Levite, and secondly of Shimei his brother,

and Jehiel, and Azariah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismakiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, the overseers under Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by appointment of Hezekiah the king. And Azariah was ruler of the house of God.

And Kore ben Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper on the east side, was over the freewill offerings of God, over the distribution of Yahweh's tribute and the most holy things.

And under his charge were Eden, and Minyamin, and Jeshua, and Maaseiah, Amariah and Shechaniah, in the priests' towns, who were faithful to distribute to their brethren by their courses, great and small,

besides those reckoned by male genealogies, from thirty years old and upward, of all who would come into Yahweh's house as assigned day by day for their service in their ministry and the courses;

and those reckoned by genealogy of their paternal clans, and the Levites from twenty years and upward by their ministries and by their courses;

and by those reckoned in the genealogies with all their little ones, their wives, and their sons and daughters, of all the congregation, because faithfully they consecrated themselves in holiness.

And for the sons of Aaron, the priests, in the fields of their towns' hinterlands, town by town, there were men who were designated by name to distribute portions for all the males among the priests, and to all reckoned in the Levite genealogies.

Thus Hezekiah did in all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before Yahweh his god.

And in all the work which he began in the service of God's house, and in the law, and in the commandment, to seek out his god with all his heart, he worked and prospered.

Chapter 32
After these faithful deeds, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah, and encamped against its fortified towns, and sought to annex them.

And Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and turned to fight against Jerusalem.

And he took counsel with his nobles and warriors to plug up the water-sources which were outside the city, and they helped him.

And a great many people were gathered, and they stopped the fountains, and the river flowing through the middle of the land, saying, Why should the Assyrian kings come and find plenty of water?

And he strengthened himself and fortified the broken wall, and raised it up to the towers and the other outer wall. And he fortified the Millo in the City of David, and made many javelins and shields.

He appointed military commanders over the people, and gathered them in the open space at the city gate, and encouraged them, saying,

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified of the king of Assyria, or of all the horde with him, because those with us are greater than those with him.

With him is human strength, but with us is Yahweh our god, to help us and to fight our battles. And the people trusted the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his officials to Jerusalem, as he and his forces with him were [occupied] against Lachish, against Hezekiah king of Judah and against all Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying,

Thus said Sennacherib king of Assyria, On whom do you rely, as you wait holed up in Jerusalem?

Hezekiah entices you -- does he not? -- toward death by starvation and thirst, when he says, Yahweh our God will rescue us from the hand of Assyria's king.

Is it not Hezekiah who removed his shrines and his altars, and commanded Israel and Judah, Before one altar you must sacrifice and burn incense.

Do you not know what I did, I and my father, to all the inhabitants of the lands? Were the gods of these countries able to rescue their land from my hands?

Who, out of all the gods of these peoples that my fathers exterminated, was able to rescue his people from my hand, that your god should be able to rescue you from my hand?

So do not let Hezekiah deceive you, and do not let him lead you astray. Do not trust him, because not one god of any people or kingdom was able to rescue his people from my hand, or from the hand of my fathers.

And again his servants spoke against Yahweh God, and against Hezekiah his servant.

And he wrote letters taunting Yahweh, the god of Israel, speaking against him, saying, As the the gods of the countries could not rescue their people from hand, so also Hezekiah's god will not rescue his people from my hand.

And they read them in a loud voice in the language of Judah near the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them and terrify them, in order to take the city.

And they spoke of Jerusalem's god as one would the gods of other nations, the work of human hands.

And Hezekiah the king and Isaiah ben Amoz the prophet prayed about this, and they cried out to heaven.

And Yahweh sent an angel, and it erased every warrior, and prince, and captain in the Assyrian king's camp, and he turned his face in shame toward his own land, and went to the house of his god, and his own children struck with down there by the sword.

And Yahweh saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria, and from the hand of everyone, and guided them throughout.

And many people would bring offerings to Yahweh in Jerusalem, and valuable gifts to Hezekiah king of Judah, and he was exalted in the eyes of all peoples from then on.

In those days Hezekiah fell mortally ill, and prayed to Yahweh, and said to him, and he spoke to him, and gave him a miraculous sign.

But Hezekiah did not repay what had been done for him, because his heart wrath proud. So there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

Then Hezekiah humbled himself from his proud-heartedness, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so Yahweh's wrath did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

And Hezekiah was very wealthy and greatly honored, and had treasures of silver, and of gold, and of precious stones, and of spices, and of shields, and of all sorts of valuable things;

and storehouses for produce: grain, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all sorts of livestock, and flocks, and stables.

And he had towns, and herds of sheep and goats, and many cattle, because God gave him great prosperity.

And it was Hezekiah who stopped the upper spring of the Gihon's waters, and sent them straight down the west side of the City of David. And Hezekiah was successful in all that he did.

And so when it came to the ambassadors of the Babylonian nobles, whom they sent against him, to investigate the wonder that had been done in the land, God abandoned him, to test him, to know all that was in his heart.

And the rest of the deeds of Hezekiah, and his faithfulness, are indeed written in the vision of Isaiah ben Amoz the prophet, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

And Hezekiah rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper part of the sepulchres of the sons of David. And was honored him his death by all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And they made Manasseh his son king in his place.

Chapter 33
Twenty years old was Manasseh at his coronation, and fifty-five years he ruled in Jerusalem.

And he did evil in Yahweh's sight, with the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh drove out before the Israelites.

And he rebuilt the shrines which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and set up altars to the Baalim, and made Asherot, and bowed down to all the host of heaven, and served them.

And he built altars in Yahweh's house, of which Yahweh said, In Jerusalem my name will be forever.

And he built altars to all the host of heaven in the two courtyards of Yahweh's house.

And he made his sons pass through the fire in the valley of Ben Hinnom, and practiced augury, sorcery, and witchcraft, and frequently consulted spirits and mediums, doing evil in Yahweh's eyes and provoking him.

And he made an idol of cast metal which he placed in the house of God, of which God said to David and to his son Solomon, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all Israel's tribes, I will place my name forever,

nor will I ever again remove Israel's foot from the ground which I have established for your fathers, so long as you are sure to observe all that I commanded them, of all the law and regulations and customs given through Moses.

Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem into error, doing more evil than the peoples whom Yahweh exterminated before the Israelites.

And Yahweh spoke to Manasseh and to his people, and they paid no attention.

And Yahweh brought against them the commands of the Assyrian king, and they captured Manasseh with hooks, and bound him with fetters, and brought him to Babylon.

And when he was in distress, he entreated Yahweh his god, and greatly humbled himself before the god of his fathers.

And he prayed to him, and he was moved with compassion for him, and heard his supplications, and returned him to his kingship in Jerusalem. And Manasseh knew that Yahweh is God.

And after this he built the outer wall of the City of David west of Gihon in the valley, to the entrance of the fish gate, and surrounded the Ophel and built it up very high, and placed military officials in all the fortified towns of Judah.

And he removed the foreign gods and the image from Yahweh's house, and all the idols which he built on the mountain of Yahweh's house, and in Jerusalem, and threw them outside the city.

And he built the altar of Yahweh, and made sacrifices on it, peace-offerings and praise-offerings, and he commanded Judah to serve Yahweh, the god of Israel.

But the peoples still made sacrifices at the shrines, though only to Yahweh their god.

And the rest of Manasseh's deeds, and his prayer to his god, and the words of the seers which they spoke in the name of Yahweh, the god of Israel; indeed, they are [written] among the acts of the kings of Israel.

And his prayer, and its answer, and all his sin and his rebellion, and the places where he built shrines, and set up Asherim and cast images before he humbled himself; indeed, they are written in the acts of the seers.

And Manasseh rested with his fathers, and they buried him in his house, and Amon his son reigned in his place.

Twenty-two years old was Amon when enthroned, and two year he ruled in Jerusalem.

And he did evil in Yahweh's eyes, as Manasseh his father did, and Amon sacrificed to all the idols his father Manasseh made, and served them.

He would not humble himself before Yahweh as Manasseh his father humbled himself, and this Amon piled up his guilt.

And his servants conspired against him and killed him in his house.

And the people of the land executed the conspirators against King Amon, and the people of the land enthroned Josiah his son in his place.

Chapter 34
Eight years old was Josiah when he became king, and thirty-one years he reigned in Jerusalem.

And he did right in Yahweh's eyes, and walked the paths of David hisfather, neither turning right nor left.

And in the eighth year of his reign, when he was yet a lad, he began to seek the god of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem of the shrines and Asherim and graven images and cast images.

And they broke in front of him the altar of the Baalim, and the incense-altars which were above them he cut down, and he shattered the Asherim and the graven images and the cast images, and pulverized them, and sprinkled them on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

And he burned the bones of the priests upon their altars, and purified Judah and Jerusalem.

And in the cities of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, in their ruins all around,

he broke down the altars, and the Asherim, and the graven images. He crushed them to bits. And all the incense-altars he cut down in all the land of Israel, and returned to Jerusalem.

And in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purified the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan ben Azaliah, and Maaseiah the city's commander, and Joah ben Joahaz the recorder to strengthen the house of Yahweh his god.

And they came to Hilkiah the high priest, and delivered the money brought for the house of God, which the Levite gatekeepers had gathered from Manasseh and Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

And they delivered it to the workmen overseeing Yahweh's house, the workmen who worked in the house of Yahweh, to repair and strengthen the house.

And they delivered it to the craftsmen and builders to buy quarried stone and timber for couplings and beams for the buildings which the kings of Judah had destroyed.

And the men carried out the work faithfully, overseen by the Levites Jahath and Obadiah, of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of the Kohathites. And the Levites, all knowledgeable in musical instruments,

were over the porters and directing every sort of work. And some of the Levites were scribes, and clerics, and gatekeepers.

And as they brought out the money collected at Yahweh's house, Hilkiah the priest found the book of Yahweh's law by Moses.

Then Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in Yahweh's house. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.

And Shaphan brought the book to the king, and brought back word to the king that his servants were carrying out all his orders.

And they poured out the silver found in Yahweh's house, delivered it to the overseers and to the workmen.

And Shaphan reported to the king, Hilkiah the priest gave me a book. And Shaphan read from it in the king's presence.

And when the king heard the words of the law, he cried out and tore his clothes.

And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam son of Shaphan, and Abdon son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying,

Go inquire of Yahweh on my behalf and on behalf of the remnant in Israel and in Judah about the words of the book which was found, because great is Yahweh's wrath which is poured out against us because our fathers did not keep Yahweh's command to do everything written in this book.

And Hilkiah and those whom the king had commanded went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum ben Tokhath ben Hasra, the keeper of the clothing, who lived in Jerusalem, in Mishneh. And they passed on that message.

And she said to them, Thus says Yahweh, the god of Israel. Say to the man who sent you to me,

Thus says Yahweh, Behold, disaster is coming against this place, and against its inhabitants: all the curses written in the book which they read in the presence of the king of Judah,

because they have abandoned me, and burned incense to other gods, in order to offend me with all the works of their hands. Therefore my rage will pour out on this place, and will not be quenched.

And to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, tell him this: Thus says Yahweh, the god of Israel, [concerning] the things which you have heard.

Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words about this place, and about its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before him, and you tore your clothes, and you wept before him, therefore I also have heard, declares Yahweh.

Indeed, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your graves in peace, and your eye will not see what disaster I bring to this place and its inhabitants. And they returned this message to the king.

And the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

And the king went up to Yahweh's house, and all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests and the Levites, and all the men, great or small. And he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of Yahweh.

And the king stood at his podium and solemnized the covenant before Yahweh, to follow Yahweh and to keep his commandments, and his regulations, and his rules, with all his heart and with all his strength, to carry out the words of the covenant written in this book.

And he made all who were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin assent. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem acted according to the covenant of God, the god of their fathers.

And Josiah removed all the abominations which the Israelites had from all the surrounding lands, and made all who were found in Israel serve Yahweh their god all his days. He did not turn from following Yahweh, the god of his fathers.

Chapter 35
And Josiah observed the passover of Yahweh in Jerusalem, and slaughtered the passover [lamb] on the fourteenth [day] of the first month.

And he made the priests stand by their courses, and strengthened them for the service of the house of Yahweh.

And he said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to Yahweh, Place the holy ark in the house which Solomon son of David, king of Israel, built. It is not to be carried on your shoulders. Now serve Yahweh your god and his people Israel.

And make preparations by your paternal houses, according to your courses, as written by David king of Israel, and as written by Solomon his son.

And stand in the sanctuary by the paternal house divisions of your brethren, the lay people, and the courses by the paternal houses of the Levites.

And sacrifice the passover [lamb], and consecrate yourselves, and make preparations for your brethren to do as Yahweh commanded by the hand of Moses.

And Josiah provided for the people young rams and goats, enough for the passover offerings for all who were present, numbering thirty thousand, as well as thirty thousand cattle. These came from the king's own property.

And his officials gave voluntary contributions for the people, for the priests, and for the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, princes of the house of God, gave to the priests for passover offerings two thousand six hundred [sheep and goats], and six hundred cattle.

And Conaniah, and Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, leaders of the Levites, distributed for the Levites as passover offerings five thousand [sheep and goats], and five hundred cattle.

And they made preparations for the service, and the priests stood at their stations, and the Levites by their courses, as the king commanded.

And they slaughtered the passover offerings, and the priests sprinkled [the blood] from their hands, and the Levites flayed them.

And they removed the burnt offerings, to give them to the paternal house divisions of the lay people, so that they could bring them to Yahweh as written in the book of Moses, and likewise the cattle.

And they roasted the passover [offerings] in the fire according to the regulation, and they boiled the [other] consecrated [offerings] in pots and cauldrons and pans, and ran them off to all the lay people.

And afterward they prepared [offerings] for themselves, and for the priests, because the priests, the sons of Aaron, [were occupied] with offerings the burnt-offerings, and the suet portions, until night. So the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron.

And the singers, of the sons of Asaph, were at their stations, as commanded by David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun, the king's seer. And the gatekeepers stood at each gate. They did not have to depart from their service, because their brethren the Levites prepared [the offerings] for them.

And they prepared all the service of Yahweh that day, observing the passover and the offering the burnt offerings on Yahweh's altar as King Josiah commanded.

So the Israelites who were present observed the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread for seven days.

Now no passover like this had been observed in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet, and all the kings of Israel had not observed such a passover as that of Josiah, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

And in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign this passover was observed.

After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt went up for battle at Carchemish along the Euphrates. And Josiah went out to meet him.

And he sent him messengers saying, What quarrel do we have with each other, king of Judah? I have not come up against you today, but against the house I am fighting, and God commanded me to hurry. Stop opposing God, who is with me, lest he destroy you.

But Josiah would not turn back from him, but disguised himself, to fight against him, and did not listen to the words of Necho which came from God. And he came for battle at the valley of Megiddo.

And the archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his servants, Carry me away, because I am severely wounded.

And his servants carried him out of the chariot, and put him in the second chariot which he had, and took him to Jerusalem. And he died, and was buried in the graves of his fathers, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

And Jeremiah delivered a lamentation for Josiah, and all the male and female singers spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them a mandatory observance in Israel. Indeed, they are written among the lamentations.

And the rest of the deeds of Josiah, and his acts of faithfulness, in accord with what is written in the law of Yahweh,

and his deeds, first and last, indeed, they are written in the books of the kings of Israel and Judah.

Chapter 36
And the people of the land took Jehoahaz, Josiah's son, and made him king in place of his father in Jerusalem.

Twenty-three years old was Joahaz when he became king, and three months he reigned in Jerusalem.

And the king of Egypt deposed him in Jerusalem, and imposed tribute on the land of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.

And the king of Egypt made his brother Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim, and Necho took Joahaz his brother and brought him to Egypt.

Twenty-five years old was Jehoiakim when he became king, and eleven years he reigned in Jerusalem. And he did evil in the eyes of Yahweh his god.

And against him Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon went up, and bound him in fetters to bring him to Babylon.

And Nebuchadnezzar brought some of the implements of the house of Yahweh to Babylon, and placed them in his temple in Babylon.

And the rest of the deeds of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he committed, and the charges against him, indeed, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

Eight years old was Jehoiachin when he became king, and three months and ten days he reigned in Jerusalem, and did evil in the eyes of Yahweh.

And at the turning of the year, King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, with precious implements of the house of Yahweh. And Zedekiah his brother ruled over Judah and Jerusalem.

Twenty-one years old was Zedekiah when he became king, and eleven years he reigned in Jerusalem.

And he did evil in the eyes of Yahweh his god. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke for Yahweh.

And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, although he had sworn him loyalty by God. And he stiffened his neck and steeled his heart against returning to Yahweh, the god of Israel.

Likewise all the chief priests and the people multiplied their rebellions with all the abominations of the [surrounding] peoples, and defiled the house of Yahweh, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.

And Yahweh, the god of their fathers, sent messengers against them, rising early and sending them, because he felt compassion for his people, and for his dwelling.

But they would mock the messengers of God, and spurned their words, and derided his prophets, until Yahweh's rage rose up against his people, until reconciliation was impossible.

And the king of the Kasdim went up against them, and killed their young men with the sword in their sanctuary, and took no pity on their young men or virgins, the aged or elderly. He delivered them all into his hand.

And all the implements of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of Yahweh's house, and the treasures of the king and his official, all he brought to Babylon.

And they burned the house of God, and broke down Jerusalem's wall. All her palaces they burned with fire, and destroyed all her objects of value.

And they took captive those who survived the sword to Babylon, and they belonged to him, and to his sons, and to his officials, until the rise of the Persian kingdom,

to fulfill the message God sent through Jeremiah, until the land repaid her sabbaths. All her days of desolation, she rested, for seventy full years.

And in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, who sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also in writing, saying,

Thus says Cyrus, king of Perisa. All the kingdoms of the earth have been given to me by Yahweh, god of the sky, and he has given me the task of building for him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? May Yahweh his god be with him, and let him go up.