2nd Chronicles {Divrei Hayamim}

1 Solomon the son of David, was strengthened in his kingdom, and YHVH his Elohim was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. 2 Then Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers. 3 So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of Elohim, which Moses the servant of YHVH had made in the wilderness. 4 But David had brought up the Ark of Elohim from Kiriath-Jearim to the place which David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. 5 Moreover, the brazen altar that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of YHVH, and Solomon and the congregation sought to it. 6 And Solomon went up there to the brazen altar before YHVH, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it. 7 In that night Elohim appeared to Solomon, and said to him: Ask what I shall give you! 8 And Solomon said to Elohim: You have showed great mercy to David my father, and have made me to reign in his stead. 9 Now, O Adonai my Elohim, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can judge this Your people, that is so great? 11 And Elohim said to Solomon: Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of your enemies, neither yet have asked long life; but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people, over whom I have made you king. 12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted to you; and I will give you riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before you, neither shall there any after you have the like. 13 Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel. 14 Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen, and he had one thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. 15 And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycamore trees that are in the vale for abundance. 16 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn; the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price. 17 So they fetched up and brought forth out of Egypt, a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty, and so they brought out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means.

1 Solomon determined to build a house for the name of YHVH, and a house for His kingdom. 2 So Solomon selected seventy thousand men to bear burdens, and eighty thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand six hundred to oversee them. 3 Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying: As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedars to build him a house to dwell in, even so deal with me. 4 Behold, I build a house to the name of YHVH my Elohim, to dedicate it to Him, and to burn before Him sweet incense, and for the continual showbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of Adonai our Elohim. This is an ordinance forever to Israel. 5 And the house which I build is great, for great is our Elohim above all gods. 6 But who is able to build Him a house, seeing Heaven, and heaven of heavens, cannot contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a house, save only to burn sacrifice before Him? 7 Send me now therefore a creative man to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and who have skill to engrave with the creative men who are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. 8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon, for I know that your servants have skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with your servants, 9 even to prepare me timber in abundance, for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderfully great. 10 And, behold, I will give to your servants, the hewers who cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil. 11 Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon: Because YHVH has Loved His people, He has made you king over them. 12 Huram said moreover: Blessed be Adonai, Elohim of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, who might build a house for YHVH, and a house for His kingdom. 13 And now I have sent a creative man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's, 14 the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skillful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also, to grave any manner of engraving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with your creative men, and with the creative men of my lord David your father. 15 Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord has spoken of, let him send to his servants. 16 And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as you shall need, and we will bring it to you in floats by sea to Joppa; and you shall carry it up to Jerusalem. 17 So Solomon numbered all the strangers who were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found a hundred and fifty three thousand six hundred. 18 And he set seventy thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and eighty thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand six hundred overseers to set the people to work.

1 Then Solomon began to build the House of YHVH at Jerusalem in Mount Moriah, where YHVH appeared to David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 2 And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign. 3 Now, these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the House of Elohim. The length by cubits after the first measure was sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. 4 And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was a hundred and twenty, and he overlaid it within with pure gold. 5 And the greater house he ceiled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains. 6 And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty, and the gold was gold of Parvaim. 7 He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls, and the doors, with gold; and engraved cherubims on the walls. 8 And he made the most holy house, the length whereof was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits, and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents. 9 And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold. 10 And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold. 11 And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house, and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub. 12 And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house, and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub. 13 The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits, and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward. 14 And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon. 15 Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty five cubits high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five cubits. 16 And he made chains, as in the innermost part of the sanctuary; and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made a hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains. 17 And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.

1 Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length, and twenty cubits the breadth, and ten cubits the height. 2 Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height; and a line of thirty cubits compassed it round about. 3 And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about; ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast. 4 It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east, and the sea was set above upon them, and all their rear parts were inward. 5 And the thickness of it was a handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; and it received and held three thousand baths. 6 He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them; such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in. 7 And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left. 8 He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. And he made a hundred basins of gold. 9 Furthermore, he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass. 10 He set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south. 11 Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the House of Elohim. 12 To wit, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were on the top of the pillars; 13 and four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths; two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were upon the pillars. 14 He made also bases, and lavers upon the bases; 15 one sea, and twelve oxen under it. 16 The pots also, and the shovels, and the flesh hooks, and all their instruments, Huram his father made to king Solomon for the House of YHVH of bright brass. 17 In the plain of Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah. 18 Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out. 19 And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the House of Elohim, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the showbread was set. 20 Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the innermost part of the sanctuary, of pure gold; 21 and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, he made of gold, and that perfect gold; 22 and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold, and the entry of the house, the inner doors for the most holy place, and the doors of the house of the temple, were of gold.

1 Thus all the work that Solomon made for the House of YHVH was finished, and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, he put among the treasures of the House of Elohim. 2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, to Jerusalem, to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of YHVH out of the City of David, which is Zion. 3 Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves to the king in the feast which was in the seventh month. 4 And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the Ark. 5 And they brought up the Ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up. 6 Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled to him before the Ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be counted nor numbered for multitude. 7 And the priests brought in the Ark of the Covenant of YHVH to its place, to the innermost section of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims, 8 for the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the Ark, and the cherubims covered the Ark and the staves above. 9 And they drew out the staves of the Ark, that the ends of the staves were seen from the Ark before the innermost part of the sanctuary; but they were not seen outside. And it is there to this day. 10 There was nothing in the Ark save the two tables which Moses put in it at Horeb, when YHVH made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. 11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, for all the priests who were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course. 12 Also, the Levites who were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets. 13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking YHVH; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised YHVH, saying: For He is good; for His mercy endures forever! That then the house was filled with a cloud, even the House of YHVH, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud, for the glory of YHVH had filled the House of Elohim.

1 Then spoke Solomon: YHVH has said that He would dwell in the thick darkness, 2 but I have built a house of habitation and a place for Your dwelling forever! 3 Then the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel, and all the congregation of Israel stood. 4 And he said: Blessed be Adonai, Elohim of Israel, who has with His hands fulfilled that which He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying: 5 Since the day that I brought forth My people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that My name might be there; neither did I choose anyone to be a ruler over My people Israel. 6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name might be there; and have chosen David to be over My people Israel! 7 Now, it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Adonai Elohim of Israel. 8 But YHVH told David my father: For as much as it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well in that it was in your heart. 9 Notwithstanding, you shall not build the house; but your son who shall come forth out of your loins, he shall build the house for My name. 10 YHVH therefore has performed His word that He has spoken, for I am risen up in the place of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as YHVH promised, and have built the house for the name of Adonai, Elohim of Israel. 11 And in it I have put the Ark, wherein is the Covenant of YHVH that He made with the children of Israel. 12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of YHVH in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands; 13 for Solomon had made a brazen scaffold, of five cubits long and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court, and he stood upon it, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven 14 and said: O Adonai, Elohim of Israel, there is no El like You in the heavens nor in the earth; who keeps Your Covenant and shows mercy unto Your servants, who walk before You with all their hearts. 15 You who have kept with Your servant David my father, that which You have promised him; and spoken with Your mouth, and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day. 16 Now therefore, O Adonai, Elohim of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father, that which You have promised him, saying: There shall not fail you anyone in My sight, to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that your children take heed to their way to walk in My law, as you have walked before Me! 17 Now then, O Adonai, Elohim of Israel, let Your word be verified, which You have spoken to Your servant David. 18 But will Elohim in very deed, dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built! 19 Have respect therefore to the prayer of Your servant, and to his supplication, O YHVH my Elohim, to hearken to the cry and the prayer which Your servant prays before You; 20 that Your eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof You have said that You would put Your name there; to hearken to the prayer which Your servant prays toward this place. 21 Hearken therefore to the supplications of Your servant, and of Your people Israel, which they shall make toward this place. Hear from Your dwelling place, even from heaven; and when You hear, forgive. 22 If a man sin against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before Your altar in this house, 23 then hear from heaven, and do, and judge Your servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head, and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness. 24 And if Your people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against You, and shall return and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this house, 25 then hear from the heavens, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them again to the land which You gave to them and to their fathers. 26 When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against You; yet, if they pray toward this place, and confess Your name, and turn from their sin, when You do afflict them, 27 then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, and of Your people Israel, when You have taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon Your land, which You have given to Your people for an inheritance. 28 If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillars; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be; 29 then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all your people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house. 30 Then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and render to every man according to all his ways, whose heart You know; for You only, know the hearts of the children of men; 31 that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways, so long as they live in the land which You gave to our fathers. 32 Moreover, concerning the stranger who is not of Your people Israel, but is come from a far country for Your great name's sake, and Your mighty hand, and Your stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house, 33 then hear from the heavens, even from Your dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calls to You for; that all people of the earth may know Your name, and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name. 34 If Your people go out to war against their enemies by the way that you shall send them, and they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your name; 35 then hear from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. 36 If they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin), and You be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives to a land far off or near; 37 yet if they bethink themselves in the land where they are carried captive, and turn and pray to You in the land of their captivity, saying: We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly! 38 If they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul, in the land of their captivity where they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which You gave to their fathers, and toward the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your name: 39 Then hear from the heavens, even from Your dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned against you. 40 Now, my Elohim, I beseech You; let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 41 Now therefore arise, O Adonai Elohim, into Your resting place; You, and the Ark of Your strength; let Your priests, O Adonai Elohim, be clothed with salvation, and let Your Saints rejoice in goodness. 42 O Adonai Elohim, do not turn away the face of Your anointed; remember the mercies of David Your servant.

1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of YHVH filled the house. 2 And the priests could not enter into the House of YHVH, because the glory of YHVH had filled the House of YHVH. 3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of YHVH upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshiped, and praised YHVH, saying: For he is good; for his mercy endures for ever. 4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before YHVH. 5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep:; so the king and all the people dedicated the House of Elohim. 6 And the priests waited on their offices; the Levites also with instruments of music of YHVH, which David the king had made to praise YHVH, because his mercy endures for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. 7 Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the House of YHVH, for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the food offerings, and the fat. 8 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath to the river of Egypt. 9 And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly, for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. 10 And on the twenty third day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that YHVH had showed to David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people. 11 Thus Solomon finished the House of YHVH, and the king's house, and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the House of YHVH, and in his own house, he prosperously effected. 12 YHVH appeared to Solomon by night and said to him: I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place to Myself for a house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up the heavens that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people. 14 If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Then, My eyes shall be open and My ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart shall be there perpetually. 17 As for you; if you will walk before Me, as David your father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and shall observe My statutes and judgments, 18 then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David your father, saying: There shall not fail you a man to be ruler in Israel! 19 But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods and worship them. 20 then I will pluck them up by the roots, out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for My name, I will cast out of My sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. 21 And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to everyone who passes by it; so that he shall say: Why has Elohim done thus to this land, and to this house? 22 And it shall be answered: Because they forsook the Elohim of their fathers, who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshiped them and served them. Therefore, all this evil has been brought upon them!

1 And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the House of YHVH, and his own house, 2 so that the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon; Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there. 3 And Solomon went to Hamathzobah, and prevailed against it. 4 So he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath. 5 Also he built Beth-Horon the upper, and Beth-Horon the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars, 6 and Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion. 7 As for all the people who were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel. 8 But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them Solomon made to pay tribute until this day. 9 But of the children of Israel Solomon made no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen. 10 And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, even two hundred and fifty, who bore rule over the people. 11 Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the City of David, to the house that he had built for her, for he said: My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, where unto the Ark of YHVH has come! 12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto Elohim on the altar of YHVH, which he had built before the porch, 13 even after a certain rate everyday, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths and on the new moons, and on the solemn festivals, three times in the year, even in the festival of unleavened bread, and in the festival of weeks, and in the festival of tabernacles. 14 And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of everyday required. The porters also by their courses at every gate, for so had David the man of Elohim commanded. 15 And they did not depart from the commandment of the king, to the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures. 16 Now, all the work of Solomon was prepared to the day of the foundation of the House of YHVH, and until it was finished. So the House of YHVH was perfected. 17 Then Solomon went to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the seaside in the land of Edom. 18 And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants who had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took there four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.

1 And when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bore spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones, and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. 2 And Solomon answered all her questions, and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not. 3 When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built, 4 and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cup bearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the House of YHVH; there was no more spirit in her. 5 And she said to the king: It was a true report which I heard in my own land of your acts, and of your wisdom. 6 Howbeit I did not believe their words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it, and, behold, the one half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told to me, for you exceed the fame that I heard. 7 Happy are your men, and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you, and hear your wisdom. 8 Blessed be Adonai your Elohim, who delighted in you to set you on His throne, to be king for Adonai your Elohim, because your Elohim loved Israel, to establish them forever. Therefore, He made you king over them, to do judgment and justice! 9 Then she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones; neither was there any such spice, as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon. 10 And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones. 11 And the king made of the algum trees, terraces to the House of YHVH, and to the king's palace; and harps and psalteries for singers, and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah. 12 Then king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which she had brought to the king. So she turned and went away to her own land, she and her servants. 13 Now, the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty six talents of gold, 14 besides that which chap men and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. 15 King Solomon made two hundred shields of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one shield. 16 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. {Heb. הַלְּבָנוֹן בֵּית יַעַר, Beit Ya'ar ha-Levanon} 17 Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. 18 And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays. 19 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other, upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom. 20 And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver; it was not anything accounted of in the days of Solomon. 21 For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram, once every three years came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, silver and ivory, and apes and peacocks. 22 And king Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 23 All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear the wisdom that Elohim had put in his heart. 24 And they brought every man his present; vessels of silver and vessels of gold, and clothing, and harness, and spices; horses and mules, a rate year by year. 25 Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. 26 And he reigned over all the kings from the river {Euphrates} even to the land of the Philistines, and then to the border of Egypt. 27 The king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycamore trees that are in the low plains in abundance. 28 And they brought to Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands. 29 Now, the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last; are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat? 30 And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31 Solomon slept with his fathers; he was buried in the City of David his father, and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king. 2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. 3 And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying: 4 Your father made our yoke grievous. Now therefore, ease somewhat the grievous servitude of your father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve you! 5 So he said to them: Come again to me after three days! And the people departed. 6 Then king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying: What counsel do you give me to answer this people? 7 And they spoke to him, saying: If you be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever. 8 But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men who were brought up with him, who stood before him. 9 And he said to them: What advice do you give me to answer this people who have spoken to me, saying: Ease somewhat the yoke that your father did put upon us? 10 And the young men who were brought up with him spoke to him, saying: Thus shall you answer the people who spoke to you, saying: Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it somewhat lighter for us; thus shall you say to them: My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins, 11 for whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions! 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying: Come again to me on the third day! 13 But the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men, 14 and answered them after the advice of the young men, saying: My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions! 15 So the king did not hearken to the people, for the cause was of Elohim, that YHVH might perform his word, which he spoke by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16 When all Israel saw that the king would not hearken to them, the people answered the king, saying: What portion have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to your tents, O Israel! Now, David, see to your own house! So all Israel went to their tents. 17 But as for the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram who was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 19 And Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day.

1 Now, when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. 2 But the word of YHVH came to Shemaiah, the man of Elohim, saying: 3 Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying: 4 Thus said YHVH: You shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren. Return, every man to his house, for this thing is done of Me! And they obeyed the words of YHVH, and returned from going against Jeroboam. 5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah. 6 He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, 7 and Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam, 8 and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, 9 and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah, 10 and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin walled cities. 11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine. 12 And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side. 13 And the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. 14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office to YHVH. 15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. 16 And after them out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek Adonai, Elohim of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto Adonai, the Elohim of their fathers. 17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years; for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon. 18 And Rehoboam took Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse, 19 who bore him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham. 20 After her he took Maachah, the daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. 21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah, the daughter of Absalom, above all his wives and his concubines. He took eighteen wives and sixty concubines; and fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. 22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren, for he thought to make him king. 23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, to every walled city, and he gave them provisions in abundance. He also sought many wives for them.

1 So it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of YHVH, and all Israel with him. 2 And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against YHVH, 3 with twelve hundred chariots, and sixty thousand horsemen, and the people were without number who came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians. 4 And he took the walled cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem. 5 Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, who were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them: Thus says YHVH: You have forsaken Me, and therefore I have also left you in the hand of Shishak! 6 Whereupon, the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves, and they said: YHVH is righteous! 7 And when YHVH saw that they humbled themselves, the word of YHVH came to Shemaiah, saying: They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and My wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. 8 Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may distinguish My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations! 9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the House of YHVH, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all; he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made. 10 Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, who kept the entrance of the king's house. 11 And when the king entered into the House of YHVH, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard chamber. 12 And when he humbled himself, the wrath of YHVH turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether, and also in Judah things went well. 13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned, for Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which YHVH had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess. 14 And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek YHVH. 15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. 16 Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David, and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.

1 Now, in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam Abijah began to reign over Judah. 2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3 Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men. Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valor. 4 And Abijah stood up upon Mount Zemaraim, which is in Mount Ephraim, and said: Hear me, you Jeroboam, and all Israel! 5 Ought you not to know that Adonai, Elohim of Israel, gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt? 6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and has rebelled against his lord! 7 And there are gathered to him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them. 8 And now you think to withstand the kingdom of YHVH in the hand of the sons of David; and you be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods. 9 Have you not cast out the priests of YHVH, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made yourselves priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? So that whosoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods. 10 But as for us, YHVH is our Elohim, and we have not forsaken Him; and the priests who minister unto YHVH, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business. 11 They burn unto YHVH every morning and every evening, burnt sacrifices and sweet incense. They also set the showbread in order upon the pure table, and the candlestick of gold with its lamps, to burn every evening, for we keep the charge of Adonai our Elohim; but you have forsaken Him. 12 And, behold, Elohim is with us for our Captain, and His priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the Elohim of your fathers, for you shall not prosper. 13 But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come about behind them, so they were before Judah, and the ambush was behind them. 14 And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind, and they cried to YHVH, and the priests sounded with the trumpets. 15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout, and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass that Elohim smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16 And the children of Israel fled before Judah, and Elohim delivered them into their hand. 17 Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter, so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men. 18 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon Adonai, the Elohim of their fathers. 19 And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with its towns, and Jeshanah with its towns, and Ephrain with its towns. 20 Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah, and YHVH struck him, and he died. 21 But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. 22 And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.

1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David, and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years. 2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of YHVH his Elohim: 3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and broke down the images, and cut down the idols of Astarte: 4 And commanded Judah to seek Adonai, Elohim of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. 5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images, and the kingdom was quiet before him. 6 And he built walled cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because YHVH had given him rest. 7 Therefore he said to Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought Adonai our Elohim, we have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered. 8 And Asa had an army of men who bore shields and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, who bore shields and drew bows, two hundred and eighty thousand: all these were mighty men of valor. 9 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with a host of a million, and three hundred chariots; and came to Mareshah. 10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. 11 And Asa cried to YHVH his Elohim, and said: YHVH, it is nothing with you to help, whether with many, or with those who have no power: help us, O Adonai our Elohim; for we rest on you, and in your name we go against this multitude. O YHVH, you are our Elohim; let not man prevail against you. 12 So YHVH smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. 13 And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar, and the Ethiopians were overthrown, so that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before YHVH, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil. 14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of YHVH came upon them, and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them. 15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.

1 And the Spirit of Elohim came upon Azariah the son of Oded: 2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, Hear you me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; YHVH is with you, while you be with him; and if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3 Now for a long season Israel has been without the true Elohim, and without a teaching priest, and without law. 4 But when they in their trouble turned to Adonai Elohim of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them. 5 And in those times there was no peace to him who went out, nor to him who came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries. 6 And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for Elohim did vex them with all adversity. 7 Be you strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. 8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from Mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of YHVH, that was before the porch of YHVH. 9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that YHVH his Elohim was with him. 10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. 11 And they offered to YHVH the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. 12 And they entered into a covenant to seek Adonai Elohim of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; 13 That whosoever would not seek Adonai Elohim of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. 14 And they swore to YHVH with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. 15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them, and YHVH gave them rest round about. 16 And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol to Astarte, and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. 17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. 18 And he brought into the House of Elohim the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels. 19 And there was no more war to the thirty fifth year of the reign of Asa.

1 In the thirty sixth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold from the treasures of the House of YHVH and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, who dwelt at Damascus, saying: 3 There is a league between me and you, as there was between my father and your father: behold, I have sent you silver and gold; go, break your league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. 4 And Benhadad hearkened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. 5 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease. 6 Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and its timber, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah. 7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on Adonai your Elohim, therefore the host of the king of Syria has escaped out of your hand. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on YHVH they were delivered into your hand. 9 For the eyes of YHVH run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him. Herein you have done foolishly; therefore from henceforth you shall have wars. 10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time. 11 Behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12 And Asa in the thirty ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great, yet in his disease he did not seek YHVH, but the physicians. 13 But Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the forty first year of his reign. 14 And they buried him in his own sepulchers, which he had made for himself in the City of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' skills, and they made a very great burning for him.

1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 And he placed forces in all the walled cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. 3 And YHVH was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not to Baalim, 4 but sought Adonai, the Elohim of his father, and walked in His commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. 5 Therefore, YHVH established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honor in abundance. 6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of YHVH; moreover he took away the high places and the idols of Astarte out of Judah. 7 Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. 8 And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests. 9 And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of YHVH with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. 10 And the fear of YHVH fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats. 12 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store. 13 And he had much business in the cities of Judah, and the men of war, mighty men of valor, were in Jerusalem. 14 And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand. 15 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand. 16 And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to YHVH; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. 17 And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand. 18 And next to him was Jehozabad, and with him a hundred and eighty thousand ready prepared for the war. 19 These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the walled cities throughout all Judah.

1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab. 2 And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people whom he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-Gilead. 3 And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you go with me to Ramoth-Gilead? And he answered him: I am as you are, and my people as your people; and we will be with you in the war! 4 So Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel: Inquire, I pray you, of the word of YHVH today! 5 Therefore, the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said to them: Shall we go to Ramoth-Gilead to battle or shall I forbear? And they said: Go up, for Elohim will deliver it into the king's hand. 6 But Jehoshaphat said: Is there not here a prophet of YHVH besides, that we might inquire of him? 7 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat: There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of YHVH, but I hate him; for he never prophesied good to me, but always evil. The same is Micaiah, the son of Imla. Jehoshaphat said: Let not the king say so! 8 So the king of Israel called for one of his officers and said: Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla! 9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. 10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron, and said: Thus said YHVH, with these you shall push Syria until they be consumed. 11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying: Go up to Ramoth-Gilead, and prosper, for YHVH shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 12 And the messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying: Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let your word therefore, I pray you, be like one of theirs, and speak good. 13 And Micaiah said: As YHVH lives, even what my Elohim said; that will I speak. 14 And when he was come to the king, the king said to him: Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said: Go up and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand. 15 And the king said to him: How many times shall I adjure you that you say nothing but the truth to me in the name of YHVH? 16 Then he said: I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd, and YHVH said: These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace. 17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat: Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good to me, but evil? 18 Again he said: Therefore hear the word of YHVH! I saw YHVH sitting upon His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and on His left. 19 And YHVH said: Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-Gilead? And one spoke, saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. 20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before YHVH and said: I will entice him! And YHVH said to him: How? 21 And he said: I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. YHVH said: You shall entice him and you shall also prevail; go out and do even so! 22 Now therefore, behold, YHVH has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets, and YHVH has spoken evil against you. 23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said: Which way went the Spirit of YHVH from me to speak to you? 24 And Micaiah said: Behold, you shall see on that day when you shall go into an inner chamber to hide yourself. 25 Then the king of Israel said: Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son, 26 and say: The king said to put this fellow in the prison and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace. 27 And Micaiah said: If you certainly return in peace, then YHVH has not spoken by me. And he said: Hearken, all you people! 28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-Gilead. 29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat: I will disguise myself and will go to the battle; but you put on your robes! So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went to the battle. 30 Now, the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots who were with him, saying: Fight not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel! 31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat that they said: It is the king of Israel! Therefore they compassed about him to fight, but Jehoshaphat cried out, and YHVH helped him; and Elohim moved them to depart from him. 32 For it came to pass that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him. 33 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness; therefore he said to his chariot man: Turn your hand that you may carry me out of the host; for I am wounded! 34 And the battle increased that day; howbeit the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening, and about the time of the sun going down, he died.

1 So Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. 2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to king Jehoshaphat: Should you help the unrighteous and love those who hate YHVH? Therefore is wrath upon you from before YHVH. 3 Nevertheless, there are good things found in you, in that you have taken away the idols of Astarte out of the land, and have prepared your heart to seek Elohim. 4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem, and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim, and brought them back to Adonai, the Elohim of their fathers. 5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the walled cities of Judah, city by city, 6 and said to the judges: Take heed what you do, for you judge not for man, but for YHVH, who is with you in the judgment. 7 Wherefore now let the fear of YHVH be upon you; take heed and do it, for there is no iniquity with Adonai our Elohim, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. 8 Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of YHVH, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. 9 And he charged them, saying: Thus shall you do in the fear of YHVH, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. 10 And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, you shall even warn them, that they trespass not against YHVH, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: do this, and you shall not trespass. 11 And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of YHVH; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and YHVH shall be with the good.

1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. 2 Then some told Jehoshaphat, against you from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazon-tamar, which is Engedi. 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek YHVH, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of YHVH: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek YHVH. 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the House of YHVH, before the new court, 6 And said: O Adonai, Elohim of our fathers, are you not Elohim in Heaven? And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in Your hand is there not power and might so that none is able to withstand You? 7 Are You not our Elohim who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and gave it to the seed of Abraham Your friend forever? 8 And they dwelt in it and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying: 9 If, when evil comes upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in Your presence, (for Your name is in this house), and cry unto You in our affliction, then You will hear and help. 10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You would not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not. 11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our Elohim, will you not judge them? For we have no might against this great company who comes against us; neither do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You! 13 All Judah stood before YHVH, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 Then the Spirit of YHVH came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the congregation. 15 And he said: Hearken, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat; thus said YHVH unto you: Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but Elohim's. 16 Tomorrow, go down against them; behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz, and you shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You shall not need to fight in this battle; set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of YHVH with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for YHVH will be with you! 18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before YHVH, worshiping YHVH. 19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise Adonai Elohim of Israel with a loud voice on high. 20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa, and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said: Hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem; believe in Adonai your Elohim, so shall you be established; believe His prophets, so shall you prosper. 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers to YHVH, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say: Praise YHVH, for His mercy endures forever. 22 And when they began to sing and to praise, YHVH set an ambush against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. 24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked to the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. 25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away, and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much. 26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed YHVH; therefore, the name of the same place is called (to this day): The Valley of Berachah! 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy, for YHVH had made them to rejoice over their enemies. 28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets to the House of YHVH. 29 And the fear of Elohim was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that YHVH fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his Elohim gave him rest round about. 31 And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah; he was thirty five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 32 And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of YHVH. 33 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts to the Elohim of their fathers. 34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel. 35 And after this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly: 36 And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Eziongaber. 37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying: Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, YHVH has broken your works! And the ships were so broken that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

1 Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead. 2 And he had brethren, the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. 3 And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with walled cities in Judah: but the kingdom he gave to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn. 4 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel. 5 Jehoram was thirty two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like the house of Ahab, for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife, and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of YHVH. 7 Howbeit YHVH would not destroy the house of David, because of the Covenant that He had made with David, and as He promised to give a light to him and to his sons forever. 8 In Jehoram's days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king. 9 Then Jehoram went forth with his commanders, and all his chariots with him, and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites who compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots. 10 So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day. At the same time, Libnah revolted from under his hand; because he had forsaken Adonai, Elohim of his fathers. 11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto. 12 And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying: Thus said Adonai Elohim of David your father: Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also have slain your brethren of your father's house, who were better than yourself: 14 Behold, with a great plague YHVH will smite your people, and your children, and your wives, and all your goods. 15 And you shall have great sickness by disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day. 16 Moreover YHVH stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, who were near the Ethiopians. 17 And they came up into Judah, and broke into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. 18 And after all this YHVH smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease. 19 And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness; so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers. 20 He was thirty two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being mourned. Howbeit they buried him in the City of David, but not in the sepulchers of the kings.

1 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead, for the band of men who came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned. when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri. 3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly. 4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of YHVH like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father to his destruction. 5 He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram, the son of king Ahab of Israel, to war against Hazael, king of Syria, at Ramoth-Gilead, and the Syrians smote Joram. 6 And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick. 7 And the destruction of Ahaziah was of Elohim by coming to Joram, for when he arrived, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom YHVH had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. 8 And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, who ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them. 9 So he sought Ahaziah, and they caught him (for he was hiding in Samaria), and brought him to Jehu, and when they had slain him, they buried him, because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought YHVH with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to still keep the kingdom. 10 But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal seed of the house of Judah. 11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons who were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not. 12 And he was hidden with them in the House of Elohim six years, and Athaliah reigned over the land.

1 In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him. 2 And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. 3 And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the House of Elohim. And he said to them: Behold, the king's son shall reign, as YHVH has said of the sons of David. 4 This is the thing that you shall do; a third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors; 5 and a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation, and all the people shall be in the courts of the House of YHVH. 6 But let none come into the House of YHVH, save the priests, and they who minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy, but all the people shall keep the watch of YHVH. 7 And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else comes into the house, you shall murder, but be you with the king when he comes in, and when he goes out. 8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with those who were to go out on the sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not rotate the courses. 9 Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in the House of Elohim. 10 And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about. 11 Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said: Elohim save the king! 12 Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the House of YHVH, 13 and she looked, and behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entrance and the princes and the trumpets by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of music, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said: Treason! Treason! 14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were set over the host, and said to them: Take her outside and whoso follows her, let him be murdered with the sword. For the priest said: Murder her not in the House of YHVH. 15 So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entrance of the horse gate by the king's house, they murdered her there. 16 And Jehoiada made a covenant between him and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be Elohim's people. 17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and broke it down, and broke his altars and images in pieces, and slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars. 18 Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the House of YHVH by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the House of YHVH, to offer the burnt offerings of YHVH, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David. 19 And he set the porters at the gates of the House of YHVH, that none who was unclean in anything should enter in. 20 And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the House of YHVH, and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom. 21 And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, after they had murdered Athaliah with the sword.

1 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 And Joash did that which was right in the sight of YHVH all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he fathered sons and daughters. 4 And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the House of YHVH. 5 And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your Elohim from year to year, and see that you hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not. 6 And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said to him, Why have you not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of YHVH, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness? 7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the House of Elohim; and also all the dedicated things of the House of YHVH they bestowed upon Baalim. 8 And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it outside at the entrance of the House of YHVH. 9 And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to YHVH the collection that Moses the servant of Elohim laid upon Israel in the wilderness. 10 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end. 11 Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought to the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to its place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance. 12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the House of YHVH, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the House of YHVH, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the House of YHVH. 13 So the workmen wrought, and the work was completed by them, and they set the House of Elohim in its state, and strengthened it. 14 And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the House of YHVH, even vessels to minister, and to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the House of YHVH continually all the days of Jehoiada. 15 But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; he was a hundred and thirty years old when he died. 16 And they buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward Elohim, and toward his house. 17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened to them. 18 And they left the house of Adonai, the Elohim of their fathers, and served Astarte and idols, and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass. 19 Yet YHVH sent prophets to them, to bring them again to him; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear. 20 And the Spirit of Elohim came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them: Thus said Elohim: Why do you transgress the commandments of YHVH, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken YHVH, He has also forsaken you! 21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the House of YHVH. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said: YHVH look upon it and require it! 23 And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him, and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil from them to the king of Damascus. 24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and YHVH delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken Adonai Elohim of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash. 25 And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases), his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died, and they buried him in the City of David, but they did not bury him in the sepulchers of the kings. 26 And these are they who conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess. 27 Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the repairing of the House of Elohim, behold, they are written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

1 Amaziah was twenty five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of YHVH, but not with a perfect heart. 3 Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew his servants who had killed the king his father. 4 But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where YHVH commanded, saying: The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin. 5 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin, and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, who could handle spear and shield. 6 He hired also a hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for a hundred talents of silver. 7 But there came a man of Elohim to him, saying: O king, let not the army of Israel go with you; for YHVH is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim. 8 But if you will go, do it, be strong for the battle: Elohim shall make you fall before the enemy: for Elohim has power to help, and to cast down. 9 And Amaziah said to the man of Elohim, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of Elohim answered: YHVH is able to give you much more than this! 10 Then Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again, wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger. 11 And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote ten thousand of the children of Seir. 12 And the children of Judah carried away captive another ten thousand left alive, and brought them to the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, so that they all were broken in pieces. 13 But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even to Beth-Horon, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil. 14 Now it came to pass, after Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense to them. 15 Wherefore the anger of YHVH was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent to him a prophet, who said to him: Why have you sought after the gods of the people which could not deliver their own people out of your hand? 16 And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said to him: Who made you a counselor to the king? Forbear; why should you be smitten? Then the prophet forbore and said: I know that Elohim has determined to destroy you, because you have done this, and have not hearkened to my counsel! 17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying: Come, let us see one another in the face! 18 And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying: The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying: Give your daughter to my son to wife, and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle. 19 You say, Lo, you have smitten the Edomites; and your heart lifts you up to boast. Stay at home; why should you meddle to your hurt, that you should fall, even you, and Judah with you? 20 But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of Elohim that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom. 21 So Joash the king of Israel went up, and they saw one another in the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 22 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent. 23 So Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits. 24 And he took all the gold and the silver and all the vessels that were found in the House of Elohim with Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria. 25 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? 27 Now after the time that Amaziah turned away from following YHVH they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish, but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there. 28 And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.

1 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah. 2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers. when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 4 And he did that which was right in the sight of YHVH, according to all that his father Amaziah did. 5 And he sought Elohim in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of Elohim, and as long as he sought YHVH, Elohim made him to prosper. 6 And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. 7 And Elohim helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims. 8 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah, and his name spread abroad even to the border with Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly. 9 Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. 10 Also he built towers in the desert, and dug many wells: for he had many cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains; husbandmen also and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel, for he loved husbandry. 11 Moreover, Uzziah had a host of fighting men, who went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains. 12 The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valor were two thousand and six hundred. 13 And under their hand was an army, three hundred and seven thousand five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones. 15 And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by creative men to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong. 16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction, for he transgressed against YHVH his Elohim, and went into the temple of YHVH to burn incense upon the altar of incense. 17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of YHVH, who were valiant men, 18 and they withstood Uzziah the king and said to him: It appertains not to you, Uzziah, to burn incense unto YHVH, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense; go out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed; neither shall it be for your honor from Adonai Elohim! 19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the House of YHVH, from beside the incense altar. 20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from there; yes, he himself hastened also to go out, because YHVH had smitten him. 21 And Uzziah the king was a leper to the day of his death, and dwelt in a separate house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the House of YHVH, and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land. 22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, were written by Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. 23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said: He is a leper, and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

1 Jotham was twenty five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of YHVH, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of YHVH. And the people did yet corruptly. 3 He built the high gate of the House of YHVH, and on the wall of Ophel he built much. 4 Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers. 5 He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay to him, both the second year, and the third. 6 So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before YHVH his Elohim. 7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was twenty five years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David, and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not do that which was right in the sight of YHVH, like David his father: 2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. 3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom YHVH had cast out before the children of Israel. 4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 5 Wherefore YHVH his Elohim delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. 6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah a hundred and twenty thousand in one day, who were all valiant men; because they had forsaken Adonai Elohim of their fathers. 7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah who was next to the king. 8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. 9 But a prophet of YHVH was there, whose name was Oded, and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said to them: Behold, because Adonai, the Elohim of your fathers, was wroth with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage that reaches up to heaven. 10 And now you purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen to you, but are there not with you, even with you, sins against Adonai your Elohim? 11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, whom you have taken captive of your brethren, for the fierce wrath of YHVH is upon you. 12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war, 13 And said to them, You shall not bring in the captives here: for whereas we have offended against YHVH already, you intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass, for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel. 14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation. 15 And the men who were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all who were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, Ir-hatamarim, to their brethren, then they returned to Samaria. 16 At that time king Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him. 17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. 18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth Shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with its villages, and Timnah with its villages, Gimzo also and its villages, and they dwelt there. 19 For YHVH brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against YHVH. 20 And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came to him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. 21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the House of YHVH, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria: but he helped him not. 22 And in the time of his distress he trespassed yet more against YHVH; this is that king Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which smote him, and he said: Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore I will sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. 24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the House of Elohim, and cut in pieces the vessels of the House of Elohim, and shut up the doors of the House of YHVH, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger Adonai Elohim of his fathers. 26 Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem, but they did not bring him into the sepulchers of the kings of Israel, and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

1 Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty five years old, and he reigned twenty nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of YHVH, according to all that David his father had done, opened the doors of the House of YHVH and repaired them. 4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street 5 and said to them: Hear me you Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of Adonai Elohim of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. 6 For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of Adonai our Elohim, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of YHVH, and turned their backs. 7 Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the Elohim of Israel. 8 Wherefore the wrath of YHVH was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as you see with your eyes. 9 For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with Adonai Elohim of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. 11 My sons, now do not be negligent: for YHVH has chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that you should minister to him, and burn incense. 12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites, and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel, and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah: 13 And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel, and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah: 14 And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei, and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel. 15 And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of YHVH, to cleanse the House of YHVH. 16 And the priests went into the inner part of the House of YHVH, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of YHVH into the court of the House of YHVH. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron. 17 Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the porch of YHVH: so they sanctified the House of YHVH in eight days; and they finished on the sixteenth day of the first month. 18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said: We have cleansed all the House of YHVH, and the altar of burnt offering, with all its vessels, and the showbread table, with all its vessels. 19 Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, we have prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of YHVH. 20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the House of YHVH. 21 And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of YHVH. 22 So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar. 23 And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them: 24 And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel. 25 And he set the Levites in the House of YHVH with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet, for so was the commandment of YHVH by His prophets. 26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of YHVH began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. 28 And all the congregation worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded, and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 29 And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves, and worshiped. 30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise to YHVH with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped. 31 Then Hezekiah answered and said: Now you have consecrated yourselves to YHVH, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the House of YHVH. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and burnt offerings from as many as were of a free heart. 32 And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was seventy bullocks, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to YHVH. 33 And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep. 34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings; wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves, for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests. 35 And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the House of YHVH was set in order. 36 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that Elohim had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.

1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the House of YHVH at Jerusalem, to keep the passover to Adonai Elohim of Israel. 2 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. 3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. 4 And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. 5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover to Adonai Elohim of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written. 6 So the messengers went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying: You children of Israel, turn again to Adonai, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, who are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 And be not like your fathers, or like your brethren, who trespassed against Adonai Elohim of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as you see. 8 Now be not stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto YHVH, and enter into His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever, and serve Adonai your Elohim, so that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you. 9 For if you turn again to YHVH, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before those who lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land, for Adonai your Elohim is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away His face from you, if you return to Him. 10 So the messengers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even to Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. 11 Nevertheless some of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. 12 Also in Judah the hand of Elohim was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of YHVH. 13 And many people assembled at Jerusalem to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. 14 And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the altars for incense, and cast them into the brook Kidron. 15 Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month, and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the House of YHVH. 16 And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of Elohim: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the congregation who were not sanctified; therefore, the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one who was not clean, to sanctify them to YHVH. 18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying: The good YHVH pardon every one 19 Who prepares his heart to seek Adonai, the Elohim of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. 20 And YHVH hearkened to Hezekiah and healed the people. 21 So the children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised YHVH day by day, singing with loud instruments unto YHVH. 22 And Hezekiah spoke comfortably to all the Levites who taught the good knowledge of YHVH, and they ate throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to Adonai Elohim of their fathers. 23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep another seven days, and they kept another seven days with gladness. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep, and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. 25 And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation who came out of Israel, and the strangers who came out of the land of Israel, and who dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, even to heaven.

1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke the images in pieces, and cut down the idols of Astarte, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities. 2 And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of YHVH. 3 He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of YHVH. 4 Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of YHVH. 5 And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the first-fruits of grain, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. 6 And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to YHVH their Elohim, and laid them by heaps. 7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. 8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed YHVH and His people Israel. 9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said: Since the people began to bring the offerings into the House of YHVH, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty, for YHVH has blessed His people and what is left is this great store! 11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the House of YHVH; and they prepared them, 12 and brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully; over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler and Shimei his brother was the next. 13 Jehiel and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the House of Elohim. 14 And Kore, the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of Elohim, to distribute the oblations of YHVH and the most holy things. 15 And next to him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small. 16 Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even to every one who enters into the House of YHVH, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses, 17 both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses. 18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons and their daughters, through all the congregation, for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness. 19 Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men who were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all who were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites. 20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before YHVH his Elohim. 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the House of Elohim, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his Elohim, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

1 After these things, and their establishment, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the walled cities, and thought to conquer them for himself. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were outside the city, and they helped him. 4 So there were gathered many people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying: Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find plenty of water? 5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall outside, and repaired Millo in the City of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. 6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spoke comfortably to them, saying: 7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him, for there be more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is Adonai our Elohim to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 9 After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem (but he himself laid siege against Lachish and all his power with him) to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah who were at Jerusalem, saying: 10 Thus said Sennacherib king of Assyria, whereon do you trust and who you abide in the siege in Jerusalem? 11 Does not Hezekiah persuade you to give yourselves over to die by famine and by thirst, saying: Adonai our Elohim shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 12 Has not the same Hezekiah taken away His high places and His altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying: You shall worship before one altar and burn incense upon it? 13 Know you not what I and my fathers have done to all the people of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of my hand? 14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand, that your Elohim should be able to deliver you out of my hand? 15 Now therefore, let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers; how much less shall your Elohim deliver you out of my hand? 16 And his servants spoke yet more against Adonai Elohim and against His servant Hezekiah. 17 He wrote also letters to rail on Adonai, the Elohim of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying: As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall not the Elohim of Hezekiah deliver His people out of my hand. 18 Then they cried with a loud voice in Judean to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them and to trouble them; that they might take the city. 19 And they spoke against the Elohim of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man. 20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. 21 And YHVH sent an Angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his gods, they who came forth of his own body slew him there with the sword. 22 Thus YHVH saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side. 23 And many brought gifts to YHVH to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from there forth. 24 In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed to YHVH, and He spoke to him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done to him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of YHVH came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. 27 And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor, and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasing jewels; 28 Storehouses also for the increase of grain, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks. 29 Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for Elohim had given him substantial wealth. 30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the City of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31 Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, Elohim left him, to try him so that He would know all that was in his heart. 32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchers of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty five years in Jerusalem: 2 But did that which was evil in the sight of YHVH, like to the abominations of the heathen, whom YHVH had cast out before the children of Israel. 3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made idols of Astarte, and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served them. 4 Also he built altars in the House of YHVH, whereof YHVH had said: In Jerusalem shall My name be forever! 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the House of YHVH. 6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; also he observed times and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards. He wrought much evil in the sight of YHVH, to provoke Him to anger. 7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the House of Elohim, of which Elohim had said to David and to Solomon his son: In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever; 8 neither will I anymore remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses. 9 So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom YHVH had destroyed before the children of Israel. 10 So YHVH spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they would not hearken. 11 Therefore, YHVH brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. 12 And when he was in affliction, he besought YHVH his Elohim, and humbled himself greatly before the Elohim of his fathers, 13 and prayed to Him, and He was entreated of him and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that YHVH, He was Elohim. 14 Now after this, he built a wall outside the City of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the walled cities of Judah. 15 Then he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the House of YHVH, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the House of YHVH, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. 16 And he repaired the altar of YHVH, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve Adonai, the Elohim of Israel. 17 Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places, yet to YHVH their Elohim only. 18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his Elohim, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of Adonai, Elohim of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. 19 His prayer also, and how Elohim was entreated of him, and all his sins and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up idols of Astarte and graven images, before he was humbled; behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers. 20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house, and Amon his son reigned in his stead. 21 Amon was twenty two years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem. 22 But he did that which was evil in the sight of YHVH, as did Manasseh his father, for Amon sacrificed to all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them, 23 and humbled not himself before YHVH, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more. 24 So his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house. 25 The people of the land slew all those who had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty one years. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of YHVH, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left. 3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the Elohim of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the idols of Astarte, and the carved images, and the molten images. 4 And they broke down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the idols of Astarte, and the carved images, and the molten images, he broke in pieces, and made dust of them, and scattered it upon the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. 6 And so he did in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even to Naphtali, with their axes round about. 7 And when he had broken down the altars and the idols of Astarte, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem. 8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the House of YHVH his Elohim. 9 And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the House of Elohim, which the Levites who kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem. 10 And they put it in the hand of the workmen who had the oversight of the House of YHVH, and they gave it to the workmen who wrought in the House of YHVH, to repair and amend the house. 11 They gave it to the artisans and builders, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed. 12 And the men did the work faithfully, and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and other of the Levites, all who could play musical instruments. 13 Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all who wrought the work in any manner of service, and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters. 14 And when they brought out the money that was brought into the House of YHVH, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of YHVH given by Moses. 15 And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe: I have found the book of the law in the House of YHVH. So Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. 16 And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying: All that was committed to your servants, they do it. 17 And they have gathered together the money that was found in the House of YHVH, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen. 18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying: Hilkiah the priest has given me a book! And Shaphan read it before the king. 19 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes. 20 And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying: 21 Go, inquire of YHVH for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found, for great is the wrath of YHVH that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of YHVH, to do after all that is written in this book. 22 And Hilkiah, and they whom the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college), and they spoke to her to that effect. 23 And she answered them: Thus says Adonai, the Elohim of Israel: Tell the man who sent you to Me 24 that I will bring evil upon this place, and upon its inhabitants, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah, 25 because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense to other gods so that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched! 26 As for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of YHVH, so shall you say to him: Thus says Adonai, the Elohim of Israel, concerning the words which you have heard: 27 Because your heart was tender, and you did humble yourself before Elohim, when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and humbled yourself before Me, and rent your clothes and wept before Me; I have even heard you also, says YHVH. 28 Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same! So they brought the king word again. 29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 And the king went up into the House of YHVH, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small, and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the House of YHVH. 31 So the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before YHVH, to walk after YHVH, and to keep His commandments, and His testimonies, and His statutes, with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book. 32 And he caused all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of Elohim; the Elohim of their fathers. 33 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel to serve, even to serve YHVH their Elohim. And all his days they departed not from following YHVH, the Elohim of their fathers.

1 Moreover, Josiah kept a passover to YHVH in Jerusalem, and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2 And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the House of YHVH, 3 and said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to YHVH: Put the holy Ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders. Serve now Adonai your Elohim, and His people Israel, 4 and prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son. 5 And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites. 6 So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of YHVH by the hand of Moses. 7 And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all for the passover offerings, for all who were present, to the number of thirty three thousand bullocks; these were of the king's substance. 8 And his princes gave willingly to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites; Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the House of Elohim, gave to the priests for the passover offerings two thousand six hundred small cattle, and three hundred oxen. 9 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave to the Levites for passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen. 10 So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment. 11 And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them. 12 They removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto YHVH, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so they did with the oxen. 13 They roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance, but the other holy offerings they sod in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people. 14 Afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests, because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering of burnt offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron. 15 And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the porters waited at every gate; they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them. 16 So all the service of YHVH was prepared the same day, to keep the passover, and to offer burnt offerings upon the altar of YHVH, according to the commandment of king Josiah. 17 The children of Israel who were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. 18 And there was no passover like that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 19 This passover was kept in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah. 20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates, and Josiah went out against him. 21 But he sent ambassadors to him, saying: What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I come not against you this day, but against the house wherewith I have war, for Elohim commanded me to make haste; forbear you from meddling with Elohim, who is with me, that He destroy you not. 22 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not to the words of Necho from the mouth of Elohim, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. 23 And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants: Take me away, for I am sore wounded! 24 His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had, and they brought him to Jerusalem; there he died and was buried in one of the sepulchers of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25 And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and all the singing men and the singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel, and, behold, they are written in the Lamentations. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of YHVH, 27 and his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

1 Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem. 2 Jehoahaz was twenty three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. 3 And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. 4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt. 5 Jehoiakim was twenty five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem, and he did that which was evil in the sight of YHVH his Elohim. 6 Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon. 7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the House of YHVH to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead. 9 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem, and he did that which was evil in the sight of YHVH. 10 And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the House of YHVH, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem. 11 Zedekiah was twenty one years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. 12 And he did that which was evil in the sight of YHVH his Elohim, and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of YHVH. 13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by Elohim, but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning to Adonai, the Elohim of Israel. 14 Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the House of YHVH which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. 15 So Adonai, the Elohim of their fathers, sent to them by His messengers, rising up in good time, and sending; because he had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. 16 But they mocked the messengers of Elohim, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of YHVH arose against His people, until there was no remedy. 17 Therefore He brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him who stooped for age; He gave them all into his hand. 18 And all the vessels of the House of Elohim, great and small, and the treasures of the House of YHVH, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon. 19 And they burnt the House of Elohim, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its goodly vessels. 20 And those who had escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia, 21 to fulfill the word of YHVH by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths; for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfill seventy years. 22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of YHVH spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, YHVH stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying: 23 Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia, all the kingdoms of the earth has Adonai Elohim of heaven given me; He has charged me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? YHVH his Elohim be with him, and let him go up.