# verses

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<pb/>Naboth’s Vineyard Now there was a man named Naboth, from Jezreel, who owned a vineyard in Jezreel beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria.


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One day Ahab said to Naboth, <t>“Since your vineyard is so convenient to my palace, I would like to buy it to use as a vegetable garden. I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or if you prefer, I will pay you for it.”</t>


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But Naboth replied, <t>“The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance that was passed down by my ancestors.”</t>


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<pb/>So Ahab went home angry and sullen because of Naboth’s answer. The king went to bed with his face to the wall and refused to eat!


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“What’s the matter?”</t> his wife Jezebel asked him. <t>“What’s made you so upset that you’re not eating?”</t>


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“Are you the king of Israel or not?”</t> Jezebel demanded. <t>“Get up and eat something, and don’t worry about it. I’ll get you Naboth’s vineyard!”</t>


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<pb/>So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and other leaders of the town where Naboth lived.


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In her letters she commanded: <t>“Call the citizens together for a time of fasting, and give Naboth a place of honor.


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And then seat two scoundrels across from him who will accuse him of cursing God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”</t>


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<pb/>So the elders and other town leaders followed the instructions Jezebel had written in the letters.


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Then the two scoundrels came and sat down across from him. And they accused Naboth before all the people, saying, <t>“He cursed God and the king.”</t> So he was dragged outside the town and stoned to death.


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<pb/>When Jezebel heard the news, she said to Ahab, “You know the vineyard Naboth wouldn’t sell you? Well, you can have it now! He’s dead!”


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“Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He will be at Naboth’s vineyard in Jezreel, claiming it for himself.


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Give him this message: ‘This is what the Lord says: Wasn’t it enough that you killed Naboth? Must you rob him, too? Because you have done this, dogs will lick your blood at the very place where they licked the blood of Naboth!’”</t>


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<pb/>“So, my enemy, you have found me!” Ahab exclaimed to Elijah. “Yes,” Elijah answered, “I have come because you have sold yourself to what is evil in the Lord’s sight.


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So now the Lord says, ‘I will bring disaster on you and consume you. I will destroy every one of your male descendants, slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel!


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I am going to destroy your family as I did the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat and the family of Baasha son of Ahijah, for you have made me very angry and have led Israel into sin.’


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“And regarding Jezebel, the Lord says, ‘Dogs will eat Jezebel’s body at the plot of land in Jezreel.’


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“The members of Ahab’s family who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the field will be eaten by vultures.”</t>


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(No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel.


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His worst outrage was worshiping idols just as the Amorites had done—the people whom the Lord had driven out from the land ahead of the Israelites.)


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<pb/>But when Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning.


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“Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has done this, I will not do what I promised during his lifetime. It will happen to his sons; I will destroy his dynasty.”</t>


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During the visit, the king of Israel said to his officials, <t>“Do you realize that the town of Ramoth-gilead belongs to us? And yet we’ve done nothing to recapture it from the king of Aram!”</t>


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Then he turned to Jehoshaphat and asked, <t>“Will you join me in battle to recover Ramoth-gilead?”</t> Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, <t>“Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses.”</t>


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So the king of Israel summoned the prophets, about 400 of them, and asked them, <t>“Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?”</t> They all replied, <t>“Yes, go right ahead! The Lord will give the king victory.”</t>


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But Jehoshaphat asked, <t>“Is there not also a prophet of the Lord here? We should ask him the same question.”</t>


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The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, <t>“There is one more man who could consult the Lord for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.”</t> Jehoshaphat replied, <t>“That’s not the way a king should talk! Let’s hear what he has to say.”</t>


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So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, <t>“Quick! Bring Micaiah son of Imlah.”</t>


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<pb/>Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on thrones at the threshing floor near the gate of Samaria. All of Ahab’s prophets were prophesying there in front of them.


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One of them, Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, made some iron horns and proclaimed, <t>“This is what the Lord says: With these horns you will gore the Arameans to death!”</t>


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All the other prophets agreed. <t>“Yes,”</t> they said, <t>“go up to Ramoth-gilead and be victorious, for the Lord will give the king victory!”</t>


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Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him, <t>“Look, all the prophets are promising victory for the king. Be sure that you agree with them and promise success.”</t>


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But Micaiah replied, <t>“As surely as the Lord lives, I will say only what the Lord tells me to say.”</t>


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<pb/>When Micaiah arrived before the king, Ahab asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we hold back?” Micaiah replied sarcastically, “Yes, go up and be victorious, for the Lord will give the king victory!”


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But the king replied sharply, <t>“How many times must I demand that you speak only the truth to me when you speak for the Lord?”</t>


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Then Micaiah told him, <t>“In a vision I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘Their master has been killed. Send them home in peace.’”</t>


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“Didn’t I tell you?”</t> the king of Israel exclaimed to Jehoshaphat. <t>“He never prophesies anything but trouble for me.”</t>


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Then Micaiah continued, <t>“Listen to what the Lord says! I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the armies of heaven around him, on his right and on his left.


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And the Lord said, ‘Who can entice Ahab to go into battle against Ramoth-gilead so he can be killed?’ <t>“There were many suggestions,


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“‘How will you do this?’ the Lord asked. <t>“And the spirit replied, ‘I will go out and inspire all of Ahab’s prophets to speak lies.’ <t>“‘You will succeed,’ said the Lord. ‘Go ahead and do it.’


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“So you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all your prophets. For the Lord has pronounced your doom.”</t>


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Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah walked up to Micaiah and slapped him across the face. <t>“Since when did the Spirit of the Lord leave me to speak to you?”</t> he demanded.


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And Micaiah replied, <t>“You will find out soon enough when you are trying to hide in some secret room!”</t>


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“Arrest him!”</t> the king of Israel ordered. <t>“Take him back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to my son Joash.


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Give them this order from the king: ‘Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water until I return safely from the battle!’”</t>


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But Micaiah replied, <t>“If you return safely, it will mean that the Lord has not spoken through me!”</t> Then he added to those standing around, <t>“Everyone mark my words!”</t>


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<pb/>The Death of Ahab So King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah led their armies against Ramoth-gilead.


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The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, <t>“As we go into battle, I will disguise myself so no one will recognize me, but you wear your royal robes.”</t> So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.


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Meanwhile, the king of Aram had issued these orders to his thirty-two chariot commanders: <t>“Attack only the king of Israel. Don’t bother with anyone else!”</t>


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So when the Aramean chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat in his royal robes, they went after him. <t>“There is the king of Israel!”</t> they shouted. But when Jehoshaphat called out,


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An Aramean soldier, however, randomly shot an arrow at the Israelite troops and hit the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. <t>“Turn the horses and get me out of here!”</t> Ahab groaned to the driver of his chariot. <t>“I’m badly wounded!”</t>


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The battle raged all that day, and the king remained propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. The blood from his wound ran down to the floor of his chariot, and as evening arrived he died.


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Just as the sun was setting, the cry ran through his troops: <t>“We’re done for! Run for your lives!”</t>


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Then his chariot was washed beside the pool of Samaria, and dogs came and licked his blood at the place where the prostitutes bathed, just as the Lord had promised.


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Ahab’s reign and everything he did, including the story of the ivory palace and the towns he built, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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Jehoshaphat Rules in Judah Jehoshaphat son of Asa began to rule over Judah in the fourth year of King Ahab’s reign in Israel.


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Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.


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Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the example of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Jehoshaphat’s reign, the extent of his power, and the wars he waged are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


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He banished from the land the rest of the male and female shrine prostitutes, who still continued their practices from the days of his father, Asa.


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Jehoshaphat also built a fleet of trading ships to sail to Ophir for gold. But the ships never set sail, for they met with disaster in their home port of Ezion-geber.


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At one time Ahaziah son of Ahab had proposed to Jehoshaphat, <t>“Let my men sail with your men in the ships.”</t> But Jehoshaphat refused the request.


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<pb/>When Jehoshaphat died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. Then his son Jehoram became the next king.


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Ahaziah Rules in Israel Ahaziah son of Ahab began to rule over Israel in the seventeenth year of King Jehoshaphat’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria two years.


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But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the example of his father and mother and the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had led Israel to sin.


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He served Baal and worshiped him, provoking the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, just as his father had done.


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<pb/>Elijah Confronts King Ahaziah After King Ahab’s death, the land of Moab rebelled against Israel.


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One day Israel’s new king, Ahaziah, fell through the latticework of an upper room at his palace in Samaria and was seriously injured. So he sent messengers to the temple of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether he would recover.


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<pb/>But the angel of the Lord told Elijah, who was from Tishbe, “Go and confront the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is there no God in Israel? Why are you going to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether the king will recover?


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Now, therefore, this is what the Lord says: You will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.’”</t> So Elijah went to deliver the message.


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They replied, <t>“A man came up to us and told us to go back to the king and give him this message. ‘This is what the Lord says: Is there no God in Israel? Why are you sending men to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.’”</t>


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They replied, <t>“He was a hairy man, and he wore a leather belt around his waist.”</t> <t>“Elijah from Tishbe!”</t> the king exclaimed.


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<pb/>Then he sent an army captain with fifty soldiers to arrest him. They found him sitting on top of a hill. The captain said to him, “Man of God, the king has commanded you to come down with us.”


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But Elijah replied to the captain, <t>“If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!”</t> Then fire fell from heaven and killed them all.


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<pb/>So the king sent another captain with fifty men. The captain said to him, “Man of God, the king demands that you come down at once.”


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Elijah replied, <t>“If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!”</t> And again the fire of God fell from heaven and killed them all.


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<pb/>Once more the king sent a third captain with fifty men. But this time the captain went up the hill and fell to his knees before Elijah. He pleaded with him, “O man of God, please spare my life and the lives of these, your fifty servants.


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See how the fire from heaven came down and destroyed the first two groups. But now please spare my life!”</t>


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Then the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, <t>“Go down with him, and don’t be afraid of him.”</t> So Elijah got up and went with him to the king.


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<pb/>And Elijah said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: Why did you send messengers to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Is there no God in Israel to answer your question? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.”


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<pb/>So Ahaziah died, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah. Since Ahaziah did not have a son to succeed him, his brother Joram became the next king. This took place in the second year of the reign of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.


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The rest of the events in Ahaziah’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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<pb/>Elijah Taken into Heaven When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal.


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And Elijah said to Elisha, <t>“Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to Bethel.”</t> But Elisha replied, <t>“As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you!”</t> So they went down together to Bethel.


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The group of prophets from Bethel came to Elisha and asked him, <t>“Did you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today?”</t> <t>“Of course I know,”</t> Elisha answered. <t>“But be quiet about it.”</t>


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<pb/>Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to Jericho.” But Elisha replied again, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together to Jericho.


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Then the group of prophets from Jericho came to Elisha and asked him, <t>“Did you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today?”</t> <t>“Of course I know,”</t> Elisha answered. <t>“But be quiet about it.”</t>


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<pb/>Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to the Jordan River.” But again Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together.


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Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River.


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Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground!


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<pb/>When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”


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“You have asked a difficult thing,”</t> Elijah replied. <t>“If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”</t>


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<pb/>As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven.


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Elisha saw it and cried out, <t>“My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!”</t> And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress.


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Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River.


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He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, <t>“Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?”</t> Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.


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<pb/>When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, “Elijah’s spirit rests upon Elisha!” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.


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“Sir,”</t> they said, <t>“just say the word and fifty of our strongest men will search the wilderness for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has left him on some mountain or in some valley.”</t> <t>“No,”</t> Elisha said, <t>“don’t send them.”</t>


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But they kept urging him until they shamed him into agreeing, and he finally said, <t>“All right, send them.”</t> So fifty men searched for three days but did not find Elijah.


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Elisha’s First Miracles One day the leaders of the town of Jericho visited Elisha. <t>“We have a problem, my lord,”</t> they told him. <t>“This town is located in pleasant surroundings, as you can see. But the water is bad, and the land is unproductive.”</t>


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Then he went out to the spring that supplied the town with water and threw the salt into it. And he said, <t>“This is what the Lord says: I have purified this water. It will no longer cause death or infertility.”</t>


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<pb/>Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. “Go away, baldy!” they chanted. “Go away, baldy!”


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Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them.


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<pb/>War between Israel and Moab Ahab’s son Joram began to rule over Israel in the eighteenth year of King Jehoshaphat’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twelve years.


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He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, but not to the same extent as his father and mother. He at least tore down the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had set up.


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Nevertheless, he continued in the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had committed and led the people of Israel to commit.


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<pb/>King Mesha of Moab was a sheep breeder. He used to pay the king of Israel an annual tribute of 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams.


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On the way, he sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: <t>“The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you join me in battle against him?”</t> And Jehoshaphat replied, <t>“Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses.”</t>


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Then Jehoshaphat asked, <t>“What route will we take?”</t> <t>“We will attack from the wilderness of Edom,”</t> Joram replied.


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The king of Edom and his troops joined them, and all three armies traveled along a roundabout route through the wilderness for seven days. But there was no water for the men or their animals.


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“What should we do?”</t> the king of Israel cried out. <t>“The Lord has brought the three of us here to let the king of Moab defeat us.”</t>


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But King Jehoshaphat of Judah asked, <t>“Is there no prophet of the Lord with us? If there is, we can ask the Lord what to do through him.”</t> One of King Joram’s officers replied, <t>“Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to be Elijah’s personal assistant.”</t>


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Jehoshaphat said, <t>“Yes, the Lord speaks through him.”</t> So the king of Israel, King Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the king of Edom went to consult with Elisha.


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<pb/>“Why are you coming to me?” Elisha asked the king of Israel. “Go to the pagan prophets of your father and mother!” But King Joram of Israel said, “No! For it was the Lord who called us three kings here—only to be defeated by the king of Moab!”


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Elisha replied, <t>“As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I wouldn’t even bother with you except for my respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah.


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Now bring me someone who can play the harp.”</t> While the harp was being played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha,


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You will see neither wind nor rain, says the Lord, but this valley will be filled with water. You will have plenty for yourselves and your cattle and other animals.


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But this is only a simple thing for the Lord, for he will make you victorious over the army of Moab!


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You will conquer the best of their towns, even the fortified ones. You will cut down all their good trees, stop up all their springs, and ruin all their good land with stones.”</t>


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<pb/>The next day at about the time when the morning sacrifice was offered, water suddenly appeared! It was flowing from the direction of Edom, and soon there was water everywhere.


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Meanwhile, when the people of Moab heard about the three armies marching against them, they mobilized every man who was old enough to strap on a sword, and they stationed themselves along their border.


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But when they got up the next morning, the sun was shining across the water, making it appear red to the Moabites—like blood.


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“It’s blood!”</t> the Moabites exclaimed. <t>“The three armies must have attacked and killed each other! Let’s go, men of Moab, and collect the plunder!”</t>


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But when the Moabites arrived at the Israelite camp, the army of Israel rushed out and attacked them until they turned and ran. The army of Israel chased them into the land of Moab, destroying everything as they went.


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They destroyed the towns, covered their good land with stones, stopped up all the springs, and cut down all the good trees. Finally, only Kir-hareseth and its stone walls were left, but men with slings surrounded and attacked it.


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When the king of Moab saw that he was losing the battle, he led 700 of his swordsmen in a desperate attempt to break through the enemy lines near the king of Edom, but they failed.


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Then the king of Moab took his oldest son, who would have been the next king, and sacrificed him as a burnt offering on the wall. So there was great anger against Israel, and the Israelites withdrew and returned to their own land.


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<pb/>Elisha Helps a Poor Widow One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.”


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“What can I do to help you?”</t> Elisha asked. <t>“Tell me, what do you have in the house?”</t> <t>“Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,”</t> she replied.


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Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.”</t>


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Soon every container was full to the brim! <t>“Bring me another jar,”</t> she said to one of her sons. <t>“There aren’t any more!”</t> he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing.


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When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, <t>“Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.”</t>


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Elisha and the Woman from Shunem One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to come to her home for a meal. After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat.


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She said to her husband, <t>“I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God.


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Let’s build a small room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by.”</t>


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He said to his servant Gehazi, <t>“Tell the woman from Shunem I want to speak to her.”</t> When she appeared,


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Elisha said to Gehazi, <t>“Tell her, ‘We appreciate the kind concern you have shown us. What can we do for you? Can we put in a good word for you to the king or to the commander of the army?’”</t> <t>“No,”</t> she replied, <t>“my family takes good care of me.”</t>


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Later Elisha asked Gehazi, <t>“What can we do for her?”</t> Gehazi replied, <t>“She doesn’t have a son, and her husband is an old man.”</t>


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“Call her back again,”</t> Elisha told him. When the woman returned, Elisha said to her as she stood in the doorway,


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“Next year at this time you will be holding a son in your arms!”</t> <t>“No, my lord!”</t> she cried. <t>“O man of God, don’t deceive me and get my hopes up like that.”</t>


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But sure enough, the woman soon became pregnant. And at that time the following year she had a son, just as Elisha had said.


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<pb/>One day when her child was older, he went out to help his father, who was working with the harvesters.


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Suddenly he cried out, <t>“My head hurts! My head hurts!”</t> His father said to one of the servants, <t>“Carry him home to his mother.”</t>


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She carried him up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and left him there.


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She sent a message to her husband: <t>“Send one of the servants and a donkey so that I can hurry to the man of God and come right back.”</t>


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“Why go today?”</t> he asked. <t>“It is neither a new moon festival nor a Sabbath.”</t> But she said, <t>“It will be all right.”</t>


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So she saddled the donkey and said to the servant, <t>“Hurry! Don’t slow down unless I tell you to.”</t>


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<pb/>As she approached the man of God at Mount Carmel, Elisha saw her in the distance. He said to Gehazi, “Look, the woman from Shunem is coming.


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Run out to meet her and ask her, ‘Is everything all right with you, your husband, and your child?’”</t> <t>“Yes,”</t> the woman told Gehazi, <t>“everything is fine.”</t>


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But when she came to the man of God at the mountain, she fell to the ground before him and caught hold of his feet. Gehazi began to push her away, but the man of God said, <t>“Leave her alone. She is deeply troubled, but the Lord has not told me what it is.”</t>


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Then she said, <t>“Did I ask you for a son, my lord? And didn’t I say, ‘Don’t deceive me and get my hopes up’?”</t>


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Then Elisha said to Gehazi, <t>“Get ready to travel; take my staff and go! Don’t talk to anyone along the way. Go quickly and lay the staff on the child’s face.”</t>


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But the boy’s mother said, <t>“As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I won’t go home unless you go with me.”</t> So Elisha returned with her.


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<pb/>Gehazi hurried on ahead and laid the staff on the child’s face, but nothing happened. There was no sign of life. He returned to meet Elisha and told him, “The child is still dead.”


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Then he lay down on the child’s body, placing his mouth on the child’s mouth, his eyes on the child’s eyes, and his hands on the child’s hands. And as he stretched out on him, the child’s body began to grow warm again!


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Elisha got up, walked back and forth across the room once, and then stretched himself out again on the child. This time the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes!


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Then Elisha summoned Gehazi. <t>“Call the child’s mother!”</t> he said. And when she came in, Elisha said, <t>“Here, take your son!”</t>


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She fell at his feet and bowed before him, overwhelmed with gratitude. Then she took her son in her arms and carried him downstairs.


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Miracles during a Famine Elisha now returned to Gilgal, and there was a famine in the land. One day as the group of prophets was seated before him, he said to his servant, <t>“Put a large pot on the fire, and make some stew for the rest of the group.”</t>


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One of the young men went out into the field to gather herbs and came back with a pocketful of wild gourds. He shredded them and put them into the pot without realizing they were poisonous.


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Some of the stew was served to the men. But after they had eaten a bite or two they cried out, <t>“Man of God, there’s poison in this stew!”</t> So they would not eat it.


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Elisha said, <t>“Bring me some flour.”</t> Then he threw it into the pot and said, <t>“Now it’s all right; go ahead and eat.”</t> And then it did not harm them.


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One day a man from Baal-shalishah brought the man of God a sack of fresh grain and twenty loaves of barley bread made from the first grain of his harvest. Elisha said, <t>“Give it to the people so they can eat.”</t>


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“What?”</t> his servant exclaimed. <t>“Feed a hundred people with only this?”</t> But Elisha repeated, <t>“Give it to the people so they can eat, for this is what the Lord says: Everyone will eat, and there will even be some left over!”</t>


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And when they gave it to the people, there was plenty for all and some left over, just as the Lord had promised.


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<pb/>The Healing of Naaman The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.


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At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid.


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One day the girl said to her mistress, <t>“I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.”</t>


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“Go and visit the prophet,”</t> the king of Aram told him. <t>“I will send a letter of introduction for you to take to the king of Israel.”</t> So Naaman started out, carrying as gifts 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.


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The letter to the king of Israel said: <t>“With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.”</t>


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When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, <t>“This man sends me a leper to heal! Am I God, that I can give life and take it away? I can see that he’s just trying to pick a fight with me.”</t>


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<pb/>But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes in dismay, he sent this message to him: “Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me, and he will learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel.”


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But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: <t>“Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”</t>


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But Naaman became angry and stalked away. <t>“I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!”</t> he said. <t>“I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me!


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Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?”</t> So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.


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But his officers tried to reason with him and said, <t>“Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’”</t>


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So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed!


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<pb/>Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the man of God. They stood before him, and Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”


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But Elisha replied, <t>“As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept any gifts.”</t> And though Naaman urged him to take the gift, Elisha refused.


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Then Naaman said, <t>“All right, but please allow me to load two of my mules with earth from this place, and I will take it back home with me. From now on I will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god except the Lord.


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However, may the Lord pardon me in this one thing: When my master the king goes into the temple of the god Rimmon to worship there and leans on my arm, may the Lord pardon me when I bow, too.”</t>


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The Greed of Gehazi But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, <t>“My master should not have let this Aramean get away without accepting any of his gifts. As surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after him and get something from him.”</t>


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So Gehazi set off after Naaman. When Naaman saw Gehazi running after him, he climbed down from his chariot and went to meet him. <t>“Is everything all right?”</t> Naaman asked.


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“Yes,”</t> Gehazi said, <t>“but my master has sent me to tell you that two young prophets from the hill country of Ephraim have just arrived. He would like 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing to give to them.”</t>


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“By all means, take twice as much silver,”</t> Naaman insisted. He gave him two sets of clothing, tied up the money in two bags, and sent two of his servants to carry the gifts for Gehazi.


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But when they arrived at the citadel, Gehazi took the gifts from the servants and sent the men back. Then he went and hid the gifts inside the house.


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<pb/>When he went in to his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” “I haven’t been anywhere,” he replied.


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But Elisha asked him, <t>“Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants?


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Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman’s leprosy forever.”</t> When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy; his skin was white as snow.


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<pb/>The Floating Ax Head One day the group of prophets came to Elisha and told him, “As you can see, this place where we meet with you is too small.


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Let’s go down to the Jordan River, where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet.”</t> <t>“All right,”</t> he told them, <t>“go ahead.”</t>


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But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. <t>“Oh, sir!”</t> he cried. <t>“It was a borrowed ax!”</t>


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“Where did it fall?”</t> the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface.


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Elisha Traps the Arameans When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, <t>“We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place.”</t>


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But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, <t>“Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.”</t>


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So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there.


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The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, <t>“Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?”</t>


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“It’s not us, my lord the king,”</t> one of the officers replied. <t>“Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!”</t>


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“Go and find out where he is,”</t> the king commanded, <t>“so I can send troops to seize him.”</t> And the report came back: <t>“Elisha is at Dothan.”</t>


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<pb/>When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha.


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Then Elisha prayed, <t>“O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!”</t> The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.


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As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, <t>“O Lord, please make them blind.”</t> So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked.


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Then Elisha went out and told them, <t>“You have come the wrong way! This isn’t the right city! Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are looking for.”</t> And he led them to the city of Samaria.


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<pb/>As soon as they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, now open their eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes, and they discovered that they were in the middle of Samaria.


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When the king of Israel saw them, he shouted to Elisha, <t>“My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?”</t>


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“Of course not!”</t> Elisha replied. <t>“Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their master.”</t>


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So the king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel.


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Ben-Hadad Besieges Samaria Some time later, however, King Ben-hadad of Aram mustered his entire army and besieged Samaria.


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As a result, there was a great famine in the city. The siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a cup of dove’s dung sold for five pieces of silver.


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<pb/>One day as the king of Israel was walking along the wall of the city, a woman called to him, “Please help me, my lord the king!”


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He answered, <t>“If the Lord doesn’t help you, what can I do? I have neither food from the threshing floor nor wine from the press to give you.”</t>


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But then the king asked, <t>“What is the matter?”</t> She replied, <t>“This woman said to me: ‘Come on, let’s eat your son today, then we will eat my son tomorrow.’


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So we cooked my son and ate him. Then the next day I said to her, ‘Kill your son so we can eat him,’ but she has hidden her son.”</t>


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When the king heard this, he tore his clothes in despair. And as the king walked along the wall, the people could see that he was wearing burlap under his robe next to his skin.


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“May God strike me and even kill me if I don’t separate Elisha’s head from his shoulders this very day,”</t> the king vowed.


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<pb/>Elisha was sitting in his house with the elders of Israel when the king sent a messenger to summon him. But before the messenger arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “A murderer has sent a man to cut off my head. When he arrives, shut the door and keep him out. We will soon hear his master’s steps following him.”


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While Elisha was still saying this, the messenger arrived. And the king said, <t>“All this misery is from the Lord! Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”</t>


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Elisha replied, <t>“Listen to this message from the Lord! This is what the Lord says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver.”</t>


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The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, <t>“That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!”</t> But Elisha replied, <t>“You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!”</t>


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<pb/>Lepers Visit the Enemy Camp Now there were four men with leprosy sitting at the entrance of the city gates. “Why should we sit here waiting to die?” they asked each other.


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“We will starve if we stay here, but with the famine in the city, we will starve if we go back there. So we might as well go out and surrender to the Aramean army. If they let us live, so much the better. But if they kill us, we would have died anyway.”</t>


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So at twilight they set out for the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the edge of the camp, no one was there!


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For the Lord had caused the Aramean army to hear the clatter of speeding chariots and the galloping of horses and the sounds of a great army approaching. <t>“The king of Israel has hired the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us!”</t> they cried to one another.


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So they panicked and ran into the night, abandoning their tents, horses, donkeys, and everything else, as they fled for their lives.


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When the lepers arrived at the edge of the camp, they went into one tent after another, eating and drinking wine; and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and hid it.


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Finally, they said to each other, <t>“This is not right. This is a day of good news, and we aren’t sharing it with anyone! If we wait until morning, some calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let’s go back and tell the people at the palace.”</t>


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So they went back to the city and told the gatekeepers what had happened. <t>“We went out to the Aramean camp,”</t> they said, <t>“and no one was there! The horses and donkeys were tethered and the tents were all in order, but there wasn’t a single person around!”</t>


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<pb/>Israel Plunders the Camp The king got out of bed in the middle of the night and told his officers, “I know what has happened. The Arameans know we are starving, so they have left their camp and have hidden in the fields. They are expecting us to leave the city, and then they will take us alive and capture the city.”


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One of his officers replied, <t>“We had better send out scouts to check into this. Let them take five of the remaining horses. If something happens to them, it will be no worse than if they stay here and die with the rest of us.”</t>


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So two chariots with horses were prepared, and the king sent scouts to see what had happened to the Aramean army.


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They went all the way to the Jordan River, following a trail of clothing and equipment that the Arameans had thrown away in their mad rush to escape. The scouts returned and told the king about it.


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Then the people of Samaria rushed out and plundered the Aramean camp. So it was true that six quarts of choice flour were sold that day for one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain were sold for one piece of silver, just as the Lord had promised.


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<pb/>The king appointed his officer to control the traffic at the gate, but he was knocked down and trampled to death as the people rushed out. So everything happened exactly as the man of God had predicted when the king came to his house.


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The man of God had said to the king, <t>“By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of choice flour will cost one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost one piece of silver.”</t>


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The king’s officer had replied, <t>“That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!”</t> And the man of God had said, <t>“You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!”</t>


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<pb/>The Woman from Shunem Returns Home Elisha had told the woman whose son he had brought back to life, “Take your family and move to some other place, for the Lord has called for a famine on Israel that will last for seven years.”


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So the woman did as the man of God instructed. She took her family and settled in the land of the Philistines for seven years.


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After the famine ended she returned from the land of the Philistines, and she went to see the king about getting back her house and land.


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As she came in, the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God. The king had just said, <t>“Tell me some stories about the great things Elisha has done.”</t>


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And Gehazi was telling the king about the time Elisha had brought a boy back to life. At that very moment, the mother of the boy walked in to make her appeal to the king about her house and land. <t>“Look, my lord the king!”</t> Gehazi exclaimed. <t>“Here is the woman now, and this is her son—the very one Elisha brought back to life!”</t>


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“Is this true?”</t> the king asked her. And she told him the story. So he directed one of his officials to see that everything she had lost was restored to her, including the value of any crops that had been harvested during her absence.


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Hazael Murders Ben-Hadad Elisha went to Damascus, the capital of Aram, where King Ben-hadad lay sick. When someone told the king that the man of God had come,


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the king said to Hazael, <t>“Take a gift to the man of God. Then tell him to ask the Lord, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”</t>


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So Hazael loaded down forty camels with the finest products of Damascus as a gift for Elisha. He went to him and said, <t>“Your servant Ben-hadad, the king of Aram, has sent me to ask, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”</t>


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And Elisha replied, <t>“Go and tell him, ‘You will surely recover.’ But actually the Lord has shown me that he will surely die!”</t>


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Elisha stared at Hazael with a fixed gaze until Hazael became uneasy. Then the man of God started weeping.


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“What’s the matter, my lord?”</t> Hazael asked him. Elisha replied, <t>“I know the terrible things you will do to the people of Israel. You will burn their fortified cities, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women!”</t>


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Hazael responded, <t>“How could a nobody like me ever accomplish such great things?”</t> Elisha answered, <t>“The Lord has shown me that you are going to be the king of Aram.”</t>


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When Hazael left Elisha and went back, the king asked him, <t>“What did Elisha tell you?”</t> And Hazael replied, <t>“He told me that you will surely recover.”</t>


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But the next day Hazael took a blanket, soaked it in water, and held it over the king’s face until he died. Then Hazael became the next king of Aram.


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Jehoram Rules in Judah Jehoram son of King Jehoshaphat of Judah began to rule over Judah in the fifth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel.


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But Jehoram followed the example of the kings of Israel and was as wicked as King Ahab, for he had married one of Ahab’s daughters. So Jehoram did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.


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But the Lord did not want to destroy Judah, for he had promised his servant David that his descendants would continue to rule, shining like a lamp forever.


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So Jehoram went with all his chariots to attack the town of Zair. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he went out at night and attacked them under cover of darkness. But Jehoram’s army deserted him and fled to their homes.


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So Edom has been independent from Judah to this day. The town of Libnah also revolted about that same time.


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Jehoram’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


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When Jehoram died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. Then his son Ahaziah became the next king.


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Ahaziah Rules in Judah Ahaziah son of Jehoram began to rule over Judah in the twelfth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel.


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Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother was Athaliah, a granddaughter of King Omri of Israel.


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Ahaziah followed the evil example of King Ahab’s family. He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, just as Ahab’s family had done, for he was related by marriage to the family of Ahab.


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<pb/>Ahaziah joined Joram son of Ahab in his war against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. When the Arameans wounded King Joram in the battle,


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he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he had received at Ramoth. Because Joram was wounded, King Ahaziah of Judah went to Jezreel to visit him.


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<pb/>Jehu Anointed King of Israel Meanwhile, Elisha the prophet had summoned a member of the group of prophets. “Get ready to travel,” he told him, “and take this flask of olive oil with you. Go to Ramoth-gilead,


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and find Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. Call him into a private room away from his friends,


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and pour the oil over his head. Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you to be the king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run for your life!”</t>


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When he arrived there, he found Jehu sitting around with the other army officers. <t>“I have a message for you, Commander,”</t> he said. <t>“For which one of us?”</t> Jehu asked. <t>“For you, Commander,”</t> he replied.


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So Jehu left the others and went into the house. Then the young prophet poured the oil over Jehu’s head and said, <t>“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anoint you king over the Lord’s people, Israel.


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You are to destroy the family of Ahab, your master. In this way, I will avenge the murder of my prophets and all the Lord’s servants who were killed by Jezebel.


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The entire family of Ahab must be wiped out. I will destroy every one of his male descendants, slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel.


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I will destroy the family of Ahab as I destroyed the families of Jeroboam son of Nebat and of Baasha son of Ahijah.


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Dogs will eat Ahab’s wife Jezebel at the plot of land in Jezreel, and no one will bury her.”</t> Then the young prophet opened the door and ran.


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<pb/>Jehu went back to his fellow officers, and one of them asked him, “What did that madman want? Is everything all right?” “You know how a man like that babbles on,” Jehu replied.


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“You’re hiding something,”</t> they said. <t>“Tell us.”</t> So Jehu told them, <t>“He said to me, ‘This is what the Lord says: I have anointed you to be king over Israel.’”</t>


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Then they quickly spread out their cloaks on the bare steps and blew the ram’s horn, shouting, <t>“Jehu is king!”</t>


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Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, led a conspiracy against King Joram. (Now Joram had been with the army at Ramoth-gilead, defending Israel against the forces of King Hazael of Aram.


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But King Joram was wounded in the fighting and returned to Jezreel to recover from his wounds.) So Jehu told the men with him, <t>“If you want me to be king, don’t let anyone leave town and go to Jezreel to report what we have done.”</t>


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Then Jehu got into a chariot and rode to Jezreel to find King Joram, who was lying there wounded. King Ahaziah of Judah was there, too, for he had gone to visit him.


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<pb/>The watchman on the tower of Jezreel saw Jehu and his company approaching, so he shouted to Joram, “I see a company of troops coming!” “Send out a rider to ask if they are coming in peace,” King Joram ordered.


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So a horseman went out to meet Jehu and said, <t>“The king wants to know if you are coming in peace.”</t> Jehu replied, <t>“What do you know about peace? Fall in behind me!”</t> The watchman called out to the king, <t>“The messenger has met them, but he’s not returning.”</t>


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So the king sent out a second horseman. He rode up to them and said, <t>“The king wants to know if you come in peace.”</t> Again Jehu answered, <t>“What do you know about peace? Fall in behind me!”</t>


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The watchman exclaimed, <t>“The messenger has met them, but he isn’t returning either! It must be Jehu son of Nimshi, for he’s driving like a madman.”</t>


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“Quick! Get my chariot ready!”</t> King Joram commanded. Then King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah rode out in their chariots to meet Jehu. They met him at the plot of land that had belonged to Naboth of Jezreel.


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<pb/>King Joram demanded, “Do you come in peace, Jehu?” Jehu replied, “How can there be peace as long as the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother, Jezebel, are all around us?”


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Then King Joram turned the horses around and fled, shouting to King Ahaziah, <t>“Treason, Ahaziah!”</t>


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But Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart, and he sank down dead in his chariot.


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Jehu said to Bidkar, his officer, <t>“Throw him into the plot of land that belonged to Naboth of Jezreel. Do you remember when you and I were riding along behind his father, Ahab? The Lord pronounced this message against him:


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‘I solemnly swear that I will repay him here on this plot of land, says the Lord, for the murder of Naboth and his sons that I saw yesterday.’ So throw him out on Naboth’s property, just as the Lord said.”</t>


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<pb/>When King Ahaziah of Judah saw what was happening, he fled along the road to Beth-haggan. Jehu rode after him, shouting, “Shoot him, too!” So they shot Ahaziah in his chariot at the Ascent of Gur, near Ibleam. He was able to go on as far as Megiddo, but he died there.


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His servants took him by chariot to Jerusalem, where they buried him with his ancestors in the City of David.


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<pb/>The Death of Jezebel When Jezebel, the queen mother, heard that Jehu had come to Jezreel, she painted her eyelids and fixed her hair and sat at a window.


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When Jehu entered the gate of the palace, she shouted at him, <t>“Have you come in peace, you murderer? You’re just like Zimri, who murdered his master!”</t>


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Jehu looked up and saw her at the window and shouted, <t>“Who is on my side?”</t> And two or three eunuchs looked out at him.


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“Throw her down!”</t> Jehu yelled. So they threw her out the window, and her blood spattered against the wall and on the horses. And Jehu trampled her body under his horses’ hooves.


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Then Jehu went into the palace and ate and drank. Afterward he said, <t>“Someone go and bury this cursed woman, for she is the daughter of a king.”</t>


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When they returned and told Jehu, he stated, <t>“This fulfills the message from the Lord, which he spoke through his servant Elijah from Tishbe: ‘At the plot of land in Jezreel, dogs will eat Jezebel’s body.


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Her remains will be scattered like dung on the plot of land in Jezreel, so that no one will be able to recognize her.’”</t>


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<pb/>Jehu Kills Ahab’s Family Ahab had seventy sons living in the city of Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the elders and officials of the city, and to the guardians of King Ahab’s sons. He said,


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“The king’s sons are with you, and you have at your disposal chariots, horses, a fortified city, and weapons. As soon as you receive this letter,


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select the best qualified of your master’s sons to be your king, and prepare to fight for Ahab’s dynasty.”</t>


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<pb/>But they were paralyzed with fear and said, “We’ve seen that two kings couldn’t stand against this man! What can we do?”


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So the palace and city administrators, together with the elders and the guardians of the king’s sons, sent this message to Jehu: <t>“We are your servants and will do anything you tell us. We will not make anyone king; do whatever you think is best.”</t>


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<pb/>Jehu responded with a second letter: “If you are on my side and are going to obey me, bring the heads of your master’s sons to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.” Now the seventy sons of the king were being cared for by the leaders of Samaria, where they had been raised since childhood.


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When the letter arrived, the leaders killed all seventy of the king’s sons. They placed their heads in baskets and presented them to Jehu at Jezreel.


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A messenger went to Jehu and said, <t>“They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.”</t> So Jehu ordered, <t>“Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the city gate, and leave them there until morning.”</t>


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In the morning he went out and spoke to the crowd that had gathered around them. <t>“You are not to blame,”</t> he told them. <t>“I am the one who conspired against my master and killed him. But who killed all these?


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You can be sure that the message of the Lord that was spoken concerning Ahab’s family will not fail. The Lord declared through his servant Elijah that this would happen.”</t>


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Then Jehu killed all who were left of Ahab’s relatives living in Jezreel and all his important officials, his personal friends, and his priests. So Ahab was left without a single survivor.


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he met some relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah. <t>“Who are you?”</t> he asked them. And they replied, <t>“We are relatives of King Ahaziah. We are going to visit the sons of King Ahab and the sons of the queen mother.”</t>


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“Take them alive!”</t> Jehu shouted to his men. And they captured all forty-two of them and killed them at the well of Beth-eked. None of them escaped.


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<pb/>When Jehu left there, he met Jehonadab son of Recab, who was coming to meet him. After they had greeted each other, Jehu said to him, “Are you as loyal to me as I am to you?” “Yes, I am,” Jehonadab replied. “If you are,” Jehu said, “then give me your hand.” So Jehonadab put out his hand, and Jehu helped him into the chariot.


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Then Jehu said, <t>“Now come with me, and see how devoted I am to the Lord.”</t> So Jehonadab rode along with him.


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When Jehu arrived in Samaria, he killed everyone who was left there from Ahab’s family, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.


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Jehu Kills the Priests of Baal Then Jehu called a meeting of all the people of the city and said to them, <t>“Ahab’s worship of Baal was nothing compared to the way I will worship him!


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Therefore, summon all the prophets and worshipers of Baal, and call together all his priests. See to it that every one of them comes, for I am going to offer a great sacrifice to Baal. Anyone who fails to come will be put to death.”</t> But Jehu’s cunning plan was to destroy all the worshipers of Baal.


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He sent messengers throughout all Israel summoning those who worshiped Baal. They all came—not a single one remained behind—and they filled the temple of Baal from one end to the other.


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And Jehu instructed the keeper of the wardrobe, <t>“Be sure that every worshiper of Baal wears one of these robes.”</t> So robes were given to them.


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Then Jehu went into the temple of Baal with Jehonadab son of Recab. Jehu said to the worshipers of Baal, <t>“Make sure no one who worships the Lord is here—only those who worship Baal.”</t>


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So they were all inside the temple to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty of his men outside the building and had warned them, <t>“If you let anyone escape, you will pay for it with your own life.”</t>


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<pb/>As soon as Jehu had finished sacrificing the burnt offering, he commanded his guards and officers, “Go in and kill all of them. Don’t let a single one escape!” So they killed them all with their swords, and the guards and officers dragged their bodies outside. Then Jehu’s men went into the innermost fortress of the temple of Baal.


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They smashed the sacred pillar and wrecked the temple of Baal, converting it into a public toilet, as it remains to this day.


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He did not, however, destroy the gold calves at Bethel and Dan, with which Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to sin.


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Nonetheless the Lord said to Jehu, <t>“You have done well in following my instructions to destroy the family of Ahab. Therefore, your descendants will be kings of Israel down to the fourth generation.”</t>


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But Jehu did not obey the Law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.


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<pb/>The Death of Jehu At about that time the Lord began to cut down the size of Israel’s territory. King Hazael conquered several sections of the country


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east of the Jordan River, including all of Gilead, Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh. He conquered the area from the town of Aroer by the Arnon Gorge to as far north as Gilead and Bashan.


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Jehu’s reign—everything he did and all his achievements—are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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<pb/>Queen Athaliah Rules in Judah When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy the rest of the royal family.


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But Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash, and stole him away from among the rest of the king’s children, who were about to be killed. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom, and they hid him from Athaliah, so the child was not murdered.


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<pb/>Revolt against Athaliah In the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign, Jehoiada the priest summoned the commanders, the Carite mercenaries, and the palace guards to come to the Temple of the Lord. He made a solemn pact with them and made them swear an oath of loyalty there in the Lord’s Temple; then he showed them the king’s son.


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Jehoiada told them, <t>“This is what you must do. A third of you who are on duty on the Sabbath are to guard the royal palace itself.


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Another third of you are to stand guard at the Sur Gate. And the final third must stand guard behind the palace guard. These three groups will all guard the palace.


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The other two units who are off duty on the Sabbath must stand guard for the king at the Lord’s Temple.


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Form a bodyguard around the king and keep your weapons in hand. Kill anyone who tries to break through. Stay with the king wherever he goes.”</t>


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<pb/>So the commanders did everything as Jehoiada the priest ordered. The commanders took charge of the men reporting for duty that Sabbath, as well as those who were going off duty. They brought them all to Jehoiada the priest,


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and he supplied them with the spears and small shields that had once belonged to King David and were stored in the Temple of the Lord.


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The palace guards stationed themselves around the king, with their weapons ready. They formed a line from the south side of the Temple around to the north side and all around the altar.


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Then Jehoiada brought out Joash, the king’s son, placed the crown on his head, and presented him with a copy of God’s laws. They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and everyone clapped their hands and shouted, <t>“Long live the king!”</t>


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<pb/>The Death of Athaliah When Athaliah heard the noise made by the palace guards and the people, she hurried to the Lord’s Temple to see what was happening.


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When she arrived, she saw the newly crowned king standing in his place of authority by the pillar, as was the custom at times of coronation. The commanders and trumpeters were surrounding him, and people from all over the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. When Athaliah saw all this, she tore her clothes in despair and shouted, <t>“Treason! Treason!”</t>


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Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders who were in charge of the troops, <t>“Take her to the soldiers in front of the Temple, and kill anyone who tries to rescue her.”</t> For the priest had said, <t>“She must not be killed in the Temple of the Lord.”</t>


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So they seized her and led her out to the gate where horses enter the palace grounds, and she was killed there.


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<pb/>Jehoiada’s Religious Reforms Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people that they would be the Lord’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.


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And all the people of the land went over to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They demolished the altars and smashed the idols to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Jehoiada the priest stationed guards at the Temple of the Lord.


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Then the commanders, the Carite mercenaries, the palace guards, and all the people of the land escorted the king from the Temple of the Lord. They went through the gate of the guards and into the palace, and the king took his seat on the royal throne.


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So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was peaceful because Athaliah had been killed at the king’s palace.


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Joash Repairs the Temple Joash began to rule over Judah in the seventh year of King Jehu’s reign in Israel. He reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba.


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All his life Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.


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Yet even so, he did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.


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<pb/>One day King Joash said to the priests, “Collect all the money brought as a sacred offering to the Lord’s Temple, whether it is a regular assessment, a payment of vows, or a voluntary gift.


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So King Joash called for Jehoiada and the other priests and asked them, <t>“Why haven’t you repaired the Temple? Don’t use any more money for your own needs. From now on, it must all be spent on Temple repairs.”</t>


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So the priests agreed not to accept any more money from the people, and they also agreed to let others take responsibility for repairing the Temple.


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<pb/>Then Jehoiada the priest bored a hole in the lid of a large chest and set it on the right-hand side of the altar at the entrance of the Temple of the Lord. The priests guarding the entrance put all of the people’s contributions into the chest.


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Whenever the chest became full, the court secretary and the high priest counted the money that had been brought to the Lord’s Temple and put it into bags.


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Then they gave the money to the construction supervisors, who used it to pay the people working on the Lord’s Temple—the carpenters, the builders,


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the masons, and the stonecutters. They also used the money to buy the timber and the finished stone needed for repairing the Lord’s Temple, and they paid any other expenses related to the Temple’s restoration.


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The money brought to the Temple was not used for making silver bowls, lamp snuffers, basins, trumpets, or other articles of gold or silver for the Temple of the Lord.


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No accounting of this money was required from the construction supervisors, because they were honest and trustworthy men.


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However, the money that was contributed for guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought into the Lord’s Temple. It was given to the priests for their own use.


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<pb/>The End of Joash’s Reign About this time King Hazael of Aram went to war against Gath and captured it. Then he turned to attack Jerusalem.


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King Joash collected all the sacred objects that Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, the previous kings of Judah, had dedicated, along with what he himself had dedicated. He sent them all to Hazael, along with all the gold in the treasuries of the Lord’s Temple and the royal palace. So Hazael called off his attack on Jerusalem.


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Joash’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


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The assassins were Jozacar son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer—both trusted advisers. Joash was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. Then his son Amaziah became the next king.


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<pb/>Jehoahaz Rules in Israel Jehoahaz son of Jehu began to rule over Israel in the twenty-third year of King Joash’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria seventeen years.


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But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.


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So the Lord was very angry with Israel, and he allowed King Hazael of Aram and his son Ben-hadad to defeat them repeatedly.


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<pb/>Then Jehoahaz prayed for the Lord’s help, and the Lord heard his prayer, for he could see how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel.


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So the Lord provided someone to rescue the Israelites from the tyranny of the Arameans. Then Israel lived in safety again as they had in former days.


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But they continued to sin, following the evil example of Jeroboam. They also allowed the Asherah pole in Samaria to remain standing.


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Finally, Jehoahaz’s army was reduced to 50 charioteers, 10 chariots, and 10,000 foot soldiers. The king of Aram had killed the others, trampling them like dust under his feet.


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Jehoahaz’s reign—everything he did and the extent of his power—are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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Jehoash Rules in Israel Jehoash son of Jehoahaz began to rule over Israel in the thirty-seventh year of King Joash’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria sixteen years.


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But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.


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The rest of the events in Jehoash’s reign and everything he did, including the extent of his power and his war with King Amaziah of Judah, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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When Jehoash died, he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then his son Jeroboam II became the next king.


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Elisha’s Final Prophecy When Elisha was in his last illness, King Jehoash of Israel visited him and wept over him. <t>“My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!”</t> he cried.


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Elisha told him, <t>“Put your hand on the bow,”</t> and Elisha laid his own hands on the king’s hands.


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Then he commanded, <t>“Open that eastern window,”</t> and he opened it. Then he said, <t>“Shoot!”</t> So he shot an arrow. Elisha proclaimed, <t>“This is the Lord’s arrow, an arrow of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans at Aphek.”</t>


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Then he said, <t>“Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground.”</t> So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times.


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But the man of God was angry with him. <t>“You should have struck the ground five or six times!”</t> he exclaimed. <t>“Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.”</t>


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<pb/>Then Elisha died and was buried. Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring.


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Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet!


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But the Lord was gracious and merciful to the people of Israel, and they were not totally destroyed. He pitied them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And to this day he still has not completely destroyed them or banished them from his presence.


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Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the towns that had been taken from Jehoash’s father, Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad on three occasions, and he recovered the Israelite towns.


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<pb/>Amaziah Rules in Judah Amaziah son of Joash began to rule over Judah in the second year of the reign of King Jehoash of Israel.


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Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Jehoaddin from Jerusalem.


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Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, but not like his ancestor David. Instead, he followed the example of his father, Joash.


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Amaziah did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.


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<pb/>When Amaziah was well established as king, he executed the officials who had assassinated his father.


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However, he did not kill the children of the assassins, for he obeyed the command of the Lord as written by Moses in the Book of the Law: <t>“Parents must not be put to death for the sins of their children, nor children for the sins of their parents. Those deserving to die must be put to death for their own crimes.”</t>


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<pb/>Amaziah also killed 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He also conquered Sela and changed its name to Joktheel, as it is called to this day.


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One day Amaziah sent messengers with this challenge to Israel’s king Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu: <t>“Come and meet me in battle!”</t>


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But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story: <t>“Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree: ‘Give your daughter in marriage to my son.’ But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it!


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“You have indeed defeated Edom, and you are proud of it. But be content with your victory and stay at home! Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?”</t>


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But Amaziah refused to listen, so King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah.


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King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah’s king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then he marched to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet of Jerusalem’s wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.


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He carried off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of the Lord. He also seized the treasures from the royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria.


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When Jehoash died, he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And his son Jeroboam II became the next king.


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The rest of the events in Amaziah’s reign are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


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There was a conspiracy against Amaziah’s life in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But his enemies sent assassins after him, and they killed him there.


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They brought his body back to Jerusalem on a horse, and he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David.


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All the people of Judah had crowned Amaziah’s sixteen-year-old son, Uzziah, as king in place of his father, Amaziah.


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Jeroboam II Rules in Israel Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, began to rule over Israel in the fifteenth year of King Amaziah’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria forty-one years.


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He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.


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Jeroboam II recovered the territories of Israel between Lebo-hamath and the Dead Sea, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had promised through Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher.


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For the Lord saw the bitter suffering of everyone in Israel, and that there was no one in Israel, slave or free, to help them.


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And because the Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel completely, he used Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, to save them.


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<pb/>The rest of the events in the reign of Jeroboam II and everything he did—including the extent of his power, his wars, and how he recovered for Israel both Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah—are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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When Jeroboam II died, he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then his son Zechariah became the next king.


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<pb/>Uzziah Rules in Judah Uzziah son of Amaziah began to rule over Judah in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel.


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He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem.


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But he did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.


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The Lord struck the king with leprosy, which lasted until the day he died. He lived in isolation in a separate house. The king’s son Jotham was put in charge of the royal palace, and he governed the people of the land.


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Uzziah’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


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When Uzziah died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. And his son Jotham became the next king.


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Zechariah Rules in Israel Zechariah son of Jeroboam II began to rule over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria six months.


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Zechariah did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, as his ancestors had done. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.


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Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah, assassinated him in public, and became the next king.


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The rest of the events in Zechariah’s reign are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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So the Lord’s message to Jehu came true: <t>“Your descendants will be kings of Israel down to the fourth generation.”</t>


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<pb/>Shallum Rules in Israel Shallum son of Jabesh began to rule over Israel in the thirty-ninth year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah. Shallum reigned in Samaria only one month.


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Then Menahem son of Gadi went to Samaria from Tirzah and assassinated him, and he became the next king.


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The rest of the events in Shallum’s reign, including his conspiracy, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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Menahem Rules in Israel At that time Menahem destroyed the town of Tappuah and all the surrounding countryside as far as Tirzah, because its citizens refused to surrender the town. He killed the entire population and ripped open the pregnant women.


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Menahem son of Gadi began to rule over Israel in the thirty-ninth year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria ten years.


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But Menahem did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. During his entire reign, he refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.


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Then King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria invaded the land. But Menahem paid him thirty-seven tons of silver to gain his support in tightening his grip on royal power.


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Menahem extorted the money from the rich of Israel, demanding that each of them pay fifty pieces of silver to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned from attacking Israel and did not stay in the land.


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Menahem’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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Pekahiah Rules in Israel Pekahiah son of Menahem began to rule over Israel in the fiftieth year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria two years.


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But Pekahiah did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.


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Then Pekah son of Remaliah, the commander of Pekahiah’s army, conspired against him. With fifty men from Gilead, Pekah assassinated the king, along with Argob and Arieh, in the citadel of the palace at Samaria. And Pekah reigned in his place.


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Pekahiah’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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Pekah Rules in Israel Pekah son of Remaliah began to rule over Israel in the fifty-second year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twenty years.


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But Pekah did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit.


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During Pekah’s reign, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria attacked Israel again, and he captured the towns of Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, and Hazor. He also conquered the regions of Gilead, Galilee, and all of Naphtali, and he took the people to Assyria as captives.


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Then Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah and assassinated him. He began to rule over Israel in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Pekah’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.


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Jotham Rules in Judah Jotham son of Uzziah began to rule over Judah in the second year of King Pekah’s reign in Israel.


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He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.


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But he did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there. He rebuilt the upper gate of the Temple of the Lord.


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Jotham’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


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When Jotham died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. And his son Ahaz became the next king.


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<pb/>Ahaz Rules in Judah Ahaz son of Jotham began to rule over Judah in the seventeenth year of King Pekah’s reign in Israel.


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Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. He did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord his God, as his ancestor David had done.


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Instead, he followed the example of the kings of Israel, even sacrificing his own son in the fire. In this way, he followed the detestable practices of the pagan nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.


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He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the pagan shrines and on the hills and under every green tree.


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<pb/>Then King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah of Israel came up to attack Jerusalem. They besieged Ahaz but could not conquer him.


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At that time the king of Edom recovered the town of Elath for Edom. He drove out the people of Judah and sent Edomites to live there, as they do to this day.


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King Ahaz sent messengers to King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria with this message: <t>“I am your servant and your vassal. Come up and rescue me from the attacking armies of Aram and Israel.”</t>


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Then Ahaz took the silver and gold from the Temple of the Lord and the palace treasury and sent it as a payment to the Assyrian king.


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So the king of Assyria attacked the Aramean capital of Damascus and led its population away as captives, resettling them in Kir. He also killed King Rezin.


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<pb/>King Ahaz then went to Damascus to meet with King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria. While he was there, he took special note of the altar. Then he sent a model of the altar to Uriah the priest, along with its design in full detail.


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Uriah followed the king’s instructions and built an altar just like it, and it was ready before the king returned from Damascus.


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He presented a burnt offering and a grain offering, he poured out a liquid offering, and he sprinkled the blood of peace offerings on the altar.


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Then King Ahaz removed the old bronze altar from its place in front of the Lord’s Temple, between the entrance and the new altar, and placed it on the north side of the new altar.


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He told Uriah the priest, <t>“Use the new altar for the morning sacrifices of burnt offering, the evening grain offering, the king’s burnt offering and grain offering, and the burnt offerings of all the people, as well as their grain offerings and liquid offerings. Sprinkle the blood from all the burnt offerings and sacrifices on the new altar. The bronze altar will be for my personal use only.”</t>


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<pb/>Then the king removed the side panels and basins from the portable water carts. He also removed the great bronze basin called the Sea from the backs of the bronze oxen and placed it on the stone pavement.


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In deference to the king of Assyria, he also removed the canopy that had been constructed inside the palace for use on the Sabbath day, as well as the king’s outer entrance to the Temple of the Lord.


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Ahaz’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


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When Ahaz died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. Then his son Hezekiah became the next king.


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<pb/>Hoshea Rules in Israel Hoshea son of Elah began to rule over Israel in the twelfth year of King Ahaz’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria nine years.


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He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, but not to the same extent as the kings of Israel who ruled before him.


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King Shalmaneser of Assyria attacked King Hoshea, so Hoshea was forced to pay heavy tribute to Assyria.


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But Hoshea stopped paying the annual tribute and conspired against the king of Assyria by asking King So of Egypt to help him shake free of Assyria’s power. When the king of Assyria discovered this treachery, he seized Hoshea and put him in prison.


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Samaria Falls to Assyria Then the king of Assyria invaded the entire land, and for three years he besieged the city of Samaria.


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Finally, in the ninth year of King Hoshea’s reign, Samaria fell, and the people of Israel were exiled to Assyria. They were settled in colonies in Halah, along the banks of the Habor River in Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.


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This disaster came upon the people of Israel because they worshiped other gods. They sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them safely out of Egypt and had rescued them from the power of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.


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They had followed the practices of the pagan nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of them, as well as the practices the kings of Israel had introduced.


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The people of Israel had also secretly done many things that were not pleasing to the Lord their God. They built pagan shrines for themselves in all their towns, from the smallest outpost to the largest walled city.


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They offered sacrifices on all the hilltops, just like the nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of them. So the people of Israel had done many evil things, arousing the Lord’s anger.


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<pb/>Again and again the Lord had sent his prophets and seers to warn both Israel and Judah: “Turn from all your evil ways. Obey my commands and decrees—the entire law that I commanded your ancestors to obey, and that I gave you through my servants the prophets.”


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But the Israelites would not listen. They were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to believe in the Lord their God.


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They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and they despised all his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves. They followed the example of the nations around them, disobeying the Lord’s command not to imitate them.


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They rejected all the commands of the Lord their God and made two calves from metal. They set up an Asherah pole and worshiped Baal and all the forces of heaven.


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They even sacrificed their own sons and daughters in the fire. They consulted fortune-tellers and practiced sorcery and sold themselves to evil, arousing the Lord’s anger.


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<pb/>Because the Lord was very angry with Israel, he swept them away from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained in the land.


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But even the people of Judah refused to obey the commands of the Lord their God, for they followed the evil practices that Israel had introduced.


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The Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel. He punished them by handing them over to their attackers until he had banished Israel from his presence.


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For when the Lord tore Israel away from the kingdom of David, they chose Jeroboam son of Nebat as their king. But Jeroboam drew Israel away from following the Lord and made them commit a great sin.


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And the people of Israel persisted in all the evil ways of Jeroboam. They did not turn from these sins


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until the Lord finally swept them away from his presence, just as all his prophets had warned. So Israel was exiled from their land to Assyria, where they remain to this day.


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Foreigners Settle in Israel The king of Assyria transported groups of people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and resettled them in the towns of Samaria, replacing the people of Israel. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.


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But since these foreign settlers did not worship the Lord when they first arrived, the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them.


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So a message was sent to the king of Assyria: <t>“The people you have sent to live in the towns of Samaria do not know the religious customs of the God of the land. He has sent lions among them to destroy them because they have not worshiped him correctly.”</t>


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The king of Assyria then commanded, <t>“Send one of the exiled priests back to Samaria. Let him live there and teach the new residents the religious customs of the God of the land.”</t>


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So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria returned to Bethel and taught the new residents how to worship the Lord.


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<pb/>But these various groups of foreigners also continued to worship their own gods. In town after town where they lived, they placed their idols at the pagan shrines that the people of Samaria had built.


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Those from Babylon worshiped idols of their god Succoth-benoth. Those from Cuthah worshiped their god Nergal. And those from Hamath worshiped Ashima.


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The Avvites worshiped their gods Nibhaz and Tartak. And the people from Sepharvaim even burned their own children as sacrifices to their gods Adrammelech and Anammelech.


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These new residents worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests to offer sacrifices at their places of worship.


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And though they worshiped the Lord, they continued to follow their own gods according to the religious customs of the nations from which they came.


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<pb/>And this is still going on today. They continue to follow their former practices instead of truly worshiping the Lord and obeying the decrees, regulations, instructions, and commands he gave the descendants of Jacob, whose name he changed to Israel.


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For the Lord had made a covenant with the descendants of Jacob and commanded them: <t>“Do not worship any other gods or bow before them or serve them or offer sacrifices to them.


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But worship only the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt with great strength and a powerful arm. Bow down to him alone, and offer sacrifices only to him.


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Be careful at all times to obey the decrees, regulations, instructions, and commands that he wrote for you. You must not worship other gods.


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You must worship only the Lord your God. He is the one who will rescue you from all your enemies.”</t>


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So while these new residents worshiped the Lord, they also worshiped their idols. And to this day their descendants do the same.


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<pb/>Hezekiah Rules in Judah Hezekiah son of Ahaz began to rule over Judah in the third year of King Hoshea’s reign in Israel.


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He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.


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He removed the pagan shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had been offering sacrifices to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan.


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Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time.


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He remained faithful to the Lord in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given Moses.


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So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did. He revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute.


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He also conquered the Philistines as far distant as Gaza and its territory, from their smallest outpost to their largest walled city.


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<pb/>During the fourth year of Hezekiah’s reign, which was the seventh year of King Hoshea’s reign in Israel, King Shalmaneser of Assyria attacked the city of Samaria and began a siege against it.


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Three years later, during the sixth year of King Hezekiah’s reign and the ninth year of King Hoshea’s reign in Israel, Samaria fell.


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At that time the king of Assyria exiled the Israelites to Assyria and placed them in colonies in Halah, along the banks of the Habor River in Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.


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For they refused to listen to the Lord their God and obey him. Instead, they violated his covenant—all the laws that Moses the Lord’s servant had commanded them to obey.


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Assyria Invades Judah In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah’s reign, King Sennacherib of Assyria came to attack the fortified towns of Judah and conquered them.


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King Hezekiah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: <t>“I have done wrong. I will pay whatever tribute money you demand if you will only withdraw.”</t> The king of Assyria then demanded a settlement of more than eleven tons of silver and one ton of gold.


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To gather this amount, King Hezekiah used all the silver stored in the Temple of the Lord and in the palace treasury.


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Hezekiah even stripped the gold from the doors of the Lord’s Temple and from the doorposts he had overlaid with gold, and he gave it all to the Assyrian king.


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<pb/>Nevertheless, the king of Assyria sent his commander in chief, his field commander, and his chief of staff from Lachish with a huge army to confront King Hezekiah in Jerusalem. The Assyrians took up a position beside the aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool, near the road leading to the field where cloth is washed.


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They summoned King Hezekiah, but the king sent these officials to meet with them: Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator; Shebna the court secretary; and Joah son of Asaph, the royal historian.


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<pb/>Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem Then the Assyrian king’s chief of staff told them to give this message to Hezekiah: “This is what the great king of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you so confident?


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Do you think that mere words can substitute for military skill and strength? Who are you counting on, that you have rebelled against me?


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On Egypt? If you lean on Egypt, it will be like a reed that splinters beneath your weight and pierces your hand. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is completely unreliable!


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“But perhaps you will say to me, ‘We are trusting in the Lord our God!’ But isn’t he the one who was insulted by Hezekiah? Didn’t Hezekiah tear down his shrines and altars and make everyone in Judah and Jerusalem worship only at the altar here in Jerusalem?


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“I’ll tell you what! Strike a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you 2,000 horses if you can find that many men to ride on them!


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With your tiny army, how can you think of challenging even the weakest contingent of my master’s troops, even with the help of Egypt’s chariots and charioteers?


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What’s more, do you think we have invaded your land without the Lord’s direction? The Lord himself told us, ‘Attack this land and destroy it!’”</t>


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<pb/>Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the Assyrian chief of staff, “Please speak to us in Aramaic, for we understand it well. Don’t speak in Hebrew, for the people on the wall will hear.”


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But Sennacherib’s chief of staff replied, <t>“Do you think my master sent this message only to you and your master? He wants all the people to hear it, for when we put this city under siege, they will suffer along with you. They will be so hungry and thirsty that they will eat their own dung and drink their own urine.”</t>


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<pb/>Then the chief of staff stood and shouted in Hebrew to the people on the wall, “Listen to this message from the great king of Assyria!


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This is what the king says: Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you. He will never be able to rescue you from my power.


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Don’t let him fool you into trusting in the Lord by saying, ‘The Lord will surely rescue us. This city will never fall into the hands of the Assyrian king!’


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“Don’t listen to Hezekiah! These are the terms the king of Assyria is offering: Make peace with me—open the gates and come out. Then each of you can continue eating from your own grapevine and fig tree and drinking from your own well.


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Then I will arrange to take you to another land like this one—a land of grain and new wine, bread and vineyards, olive groves and honey. Choose life instead of death! <t>“Don’t listen to Hezekiah when he tries to mislead you by saying, ‘The Lord will rescue us!’


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What happened to the gods of Hamath and Arpad? And what about the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Did any god rescue Samaria from my power?


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What god of any nation has ever been able to save its people from my power? So what makes you think that the Lord can rescue Jerusalem from me?”</t>


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But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, <t>“Do not answer him.”</t>


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<pb/>Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator; Shebna the court secretary; and Joah son of Asaph, the royal historian, went back to Hezekiah. They tore their clothes in despair, and they went in to see the king and told him what the Assyrian chief of staff had said.


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Hezekiah Seeks the Lord’s Help When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes and put on burlap and went into the Temple of the Lord.


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And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the court secretary, and the leading priests, all dressed in burlap, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.


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They told him, <t>“This is what King Hezekiah says: Today is a day of trouble, insults, and disgrace. It is like when a child is ready to be born, but the mother has no strength to deliver the baby.


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But perhaps the Lord your God has heard the Assyrian chief of staff, sent by the king to defy the living God, and will punish him for his words. Oh, pray for those of us who are left!”</t>


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the prophet replied, <t>“Say to your master, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be disturbed by this blasphemous speech against me from the Assyrian king’s messengers.


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Listen! I myself will move against him, and the king will receive a message that he is needed at home. So he will return to his land, where I will have him killed with a sword.’”</t>


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<pb/>Meanwhile, the Assyrian chief of staff left Jerusalem and went to consult the king of Assyria, who had left Lachish and was attacking Libnah.


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Soon afterward King Sennacherib received word that King Tirhakah of Ethiopia was leading an army to fight against him. Before leaving to meet the attack, he sent messengers back to Hezekiah in Jerusalem with this message:


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“This message is for King Hezekiah of Judah. Don’t let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you with promises that Jerusalem will not be captured by the king of Assyria.


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You know perfectly well what the kings of Assyria have done wherever they have gone. They have completely destroyed everyone who stood in their way! Why should you be any different?


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Have the gods of other nations rescued them—such nations as Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Tel-assar? My predecessors destroyed them all!


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What happened to the king of Hamath and the king of Arpad? What happened to the kings of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?”</t>


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<pb/>After Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Lord’s Temple and spread it out before the Lord.


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And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the Lord: <t>“O Lord, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth.


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Bend down, O Lord, and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord, and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God.


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And they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them. But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all—only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands.


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Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord, are God.”</t>


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<pb/>Isaiah Predicts Judah’s Deliverance Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent this message to Hezekiah: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer about King Sennacherib of Assyria.


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And the Lord has spoken this word against him: <t>“The virgin daughter of Zion despises you and laughs at you. The daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head in derision as you flee.</t>


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<pb/><t>“Whom have you been defying and ridiculing? Against whom did you raise your voice? At whom did you look with such haughty eyes? It was the Holy One of Israel!</t>


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<pb/><t>By your messengers you have defied the Lord. You have said, ‘With my many chariots I have conquered the highest mountains— yes, the remotest peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars and its finest cypress trees. I have reached its farthest corners and explored its deepest forests.</t>


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<pb/><t>I have dug wells in many foreign lands and refreshed myself with their water. With the sole of my foot I stopped up all the rivers of Egypt!’</t>


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<pb/><t>“But have you not heard? I decided this long ago. Long ago I planned it, and now I am making it happen. I planned for you to crush fortified cities into heaps of rubble.</t>


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<pb/><t>That is why their people have so little power and are so frightened and confused. They are as weak as grass, as easily trampled as tender green shoots. They are like grass sprouting on a housetop, scorched before it can grow lush and tall.</t>


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<pb/><t>“But I know you well— where you stay and when you come and go. I know the way you have raged against me.</t>


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<pb/><t>And because of your raging against me and your arrogance, which I have heard for myself, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth. I will make you return by the same road on which you came.”</t>


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Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, <t>“Here is the proof that what I say is true: <t>“This year you will eat only what grows up by itself, and next year you will eat what springs up from that. But in the third year you will plant crops and harvest them; you will tend vineyards and eat their fruit.


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And you who are left in Judah, who have escaped the ravages of the siege, will put roots down in your own soil and will grow up and flourish.


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<t>For a remnant of my people will spread out from Jerusalem, a group of survivors from Mount Zion. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!</t>


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<pb/><t>“And this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria: “His armies will not enter Jerusalem. They will not even shoot an arrow at it. They will not march outside its gates with their shields nor build banks of earth against its walls.</t>


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<pb/>The king will return to his own country by the same road on which he came. He will not enter this city, says the Lord.


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<pb/>That night the angel of the Lord went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. When the surviving Assyrians woke up the next morning, they found corpses everywhere.


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Then King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and returned to his own land. He went home to his capital of Nineveh and stayed there.


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One day while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with their swords. They then escaped to the land of Ararat, and another son, Esarhaddon, became the next king of Assyria.


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<pb/>Hezekiah’s Sickness and Recovery About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the Lord says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.”


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“Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.”</t> Then he broke down and wept bitterly.


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“Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the Lord.


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I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own honor and for the sake of my servant David.’”</t>


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Then Isaiah said, <t>“Make an ointment from figs.”</t> So Hezekiah’s servants spread the ointment over the boil, and Hezekiah recovered!


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<pb/>Meanwhile, Hezekiah had said to Isaiah, “What sign will the Lord give to prove that he will heal me and that I will go to the Temple of the Lord three days from now?”


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Isaiah replied, <t>“This is the sign from the Lord to prove that he will do as he promised. Would you like the shadow on the sundial to go forward ten steps or backward ten steps?”</t>


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“The shadow always moves forward,”</t> Hezekiah replied, <t>“so that would be easy. Make it go ten steps backward instead.”</t>


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So Isaiah the prophet asked the Lord to do this, and he caused the shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz!


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Envoys from Babylon Soon after this, Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent Hezekiah his best wishes and a gift, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been very sick.


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Hezekiah received the Babylonian envoys and showed them everything in his treasure-houses—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the aromatic oils. He also took them to see his armory and showed them everything in his royal treasuries! There was nothing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.


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Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked him, <t>“What did those men want? Where were they from?”</t> Hezekiah replied, <t>“They came from the distant land of Babylon.”</t>


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“What did they see in your palace?”</t> Isaiah asked. <t>“They saw everything,”</t> Hezekiah replied. <t>“I showed them everything I own—all my royal treasuries.”</t>


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The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord.


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Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.”</t>


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Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, <t>“This message you have given me from the Lord is good.”</t> For the king was thinking, <t>“At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.”</t>


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Hezekiah’s reign, including the extent of his power and how he built a pool and dug a tunnel to bring water into the city, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


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<pb/>Manasseh Rules in Judah Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother was Hephzibah.


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He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.


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He rebuilt the pagan shrines his father, Hezekiah, had destroyed. He constructed altars for Baal and set up an Asherah pole, just as King Ahab of Israel had done. He also bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshiped them.


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He built pagan altars in the Temple of the Lord, the place where the Lord had said, <t>“My name will remain in Jerusalem forever.”</t>


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Manasseh also sacrificed his own son in the fire. He practiced sorcery and divination, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the Lord’s sight, arousing his anger.


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Manasseh even made a carved image of Asherah and set it up in the Temple, the very place where the Lord had told David and his son Solomon: <t>“My name will be honored forever in this Temple and in Jerusalem—the city I have chosen from among all the tribes of Israel.


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If the Israelites will be careful to obey my commands—all the laws my servant Moses gave them—I will not send them into exile from this land that I gave their ancestors.”</t>


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But the people refused to listen, and Manasseh led them to do even more evil than the pagan nations that the Lord had destroyed when the people of Israel entered the land.


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“King Manasseh of Judah has done many detestable things. He is even more wicked than the Amorites, who lived in this land before Israel. He has caused the people of Judah to sin with his idols.


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So this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of those who hear about it will tingle with horror.


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I will judge Jerusalem by the same standard I used for Samaria and the same measure I used for the family of Ahab. I will wipe away the people of Jerusalem as one wipes a dish and turns it upside down.


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Then I will reject even the remnant of my own people who are left, and I will hand them over as plunder for their enemies.


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For they have done great evil in my sight and have angered me ever since their ancestors came out of Egypt.”</t>


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<pb/>Manasseh also murdered many innocent people until Jerusalem was filled from one end to the other with innocent blood. This was in addition to the sin that he caused the people of Judah to commit, leading them to do evil in the Lord’s sight.


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Manasseh’s reign and everything he did, including the sins he committed, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


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When Manasseh died, he was buried in the palace garden, the garden of Uzza. Then his son Amon became the next king.


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Amon Rules in Judah Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz from Jotbah.


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But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah the next king.


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Amon’s reign and what he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


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<pb/>Josiah Rules in Judah Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah from Bozkath.


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He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.


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<pb/>In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and grandson of Meshullam, the court secretary, to the Temple of the Lord. He told him,


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“Go to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count the money the gatekeepers have collected from the people at the Lord’s Temple.


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Entrust this money to the men assigned to supervise the restoration of the Lord’s Temple. Then they can use it to pay workers to repair the Temple.


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They will need to hire carpenters, builders, and masons. Also have them buy the timber and the finished stone needed to repair the Temple.


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But don’t require the construction supervisors to keep account of the money they receive, for they are honest and trustworthy men.”</t>


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<pb/>Hilkiah Discovers God’s Law Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the court secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord’s Temple!” Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it.


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Shaphan went to the king and reported, <t>“Your officials have turned over the money collected at the Temple of the Lord to the workers and supervisors at the Temple.”</t>


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Shaphan also told the king, <t>“Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.”</t> So Shaphan read it to the king.


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Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king’s personal adviser:


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“Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.”</t>


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<pb/>So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the New Quarter of Jerusalem to consult with the prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, the keeper of the Temple wardrobe.


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She said to them, <t>“The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken! Go back and tell the man who sent you,


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‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this city and its people. All the words written in the scroll that the king of Judah has read will come true.


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For my people have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to pagan gods, and I am very angry with them for everything they have done. My anger will burn against this place, and it will not be quenched.’


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“But go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the Lord and tell him: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard:


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You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and its people—that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord.


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So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city.’”</t> So they took her message back to the king.


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And the king went up to the Temple of the Lord with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, along with the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. There the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the Lord’s Temple.


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The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the Lord’s presence. He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. In this way, he confirmed all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll, and all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.


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<pb/>Then the king instructed Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second rank and the Temple gatekeepers to remove from the Lord’s Temple all the articles that were used to worship Baal, Asherah, and all the powers of the heavens. The king had all these things burned outside Jerusalem on the terraces of the Kidron Valley, and he carried the ashes away to Bethel.


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He did away with the idolatrous priests, who had been appointed by the previous kings of Judah, for they had offered sacrifices at the pagan shrines throughout Judah and even in the vicinity of Jerusalem. They had also offered sacrifices to Baal, and to the sun, the moon, the constellations, and to all the powers of the heavens.


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The king removed the Asherah pole from the Lord’s Temple and took it outside Jerusalem to the Kidron Valley, where he burned it. Then he ground the ashes of the pole to dust and threw the dust over the graves of the people.


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He also tore down the living quarters of the male and female shrine prostitutes that were inside the Temple of the Lord, where the women wove coverings for the Asherah pole.


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<pb/>Josiah brought to Jerusalem all the priests who were living in other towns of Judah. He also defiled the pagan shrines, where they had offered sacrifices—all the way from Geba to Beersheba. He destroyed the shrines at the entrance to the gate of Joshua, the governor of Jerusalem. This gate was located to the left of the city gate as one enters the city.


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The priests who had served at the pagan shrines were not allowed to serve at the Lord’s altar in Jerusalem, but they were allowed to eat unleavened bread with the other priests.


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Then the king defiled the altar of Topheth in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, so no one could ever again use it to sacrifice a son or daughter in the fire as an offering to Molech.


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He removed from the entrance of the Lord’s Temple the horse statues that the former kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun. They were near the quarters of Nathan-melech the eunuch, an officer of the court. The king also burned the chariots dedicated to the sun.


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Josiah tore down the altars that the kings of Judah had built on the palace roof above the upper room of Ahaz. The king destroyed the altars that Manasseh had built in the two courtyards of the Lord’s Temple. He smashed them to bits and scattered the pieces in the Kidron Valley.


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The king also desecrated the pagan shrines east of Jerusalem, to the south of the Mount of Corruption, where King Solomon of Israel had built shrines for Ashtoreth, the detestable goddess of the Sidonians; and for Chemosh, the detestable god of the Moabites; and for Molech, the vile god of the Ammonites.


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He smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles. Then he desecrated these places by scattering human bones over them.


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<pb/>The king also tore down the altar at Bethel—the pagan shrine that Jeroboam son of Nebat had made when he caused Israel to sin. He burned down the shrine and ground it to dust, and he burned the Asherah pole.


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Then Josiah turned around and noticed several tombs in the side of the hill. He ordered that the bones be brought out, and he burned them on the altar at Bethel to desecrate it. (This happened just as the Lord had promised through the man of God when Jeroboam stood beside the altar at the festival.) Then Josiah turned and looked up at the tomb of the man of God who had predicted these things.


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“What is that monument over there?”</t> Josiah asked. And the people of the town told him, <t>“It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and predicted the very things that you have just done to the altar at Bethel!”</t>


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Josiah replied, <t>“Leave it alone. Don’t disturb his bones.”</t> So they did not burn his bones or those of the old prophet from Samaria.


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<pb/>Then Josiah demolished all the buildings at the pagan shrines in the towns of Samaria, just as he had done at Bethel. They had been built by the various kings of Israel and had made the Lord very angry.


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He executed the priests of the pagan shrines on their own altars, and he burned human bones on the altars to desecrate them. Finally, he returned to Jerusalem.


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<pb/>Josiah Celebrates Passover King Josiah then issued this order to all the people: “You must celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God, as required in this Book of the Covenant.”


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There had not been a Passover celebration like that since the time when the judges ruled in Israel, nor throughout all the years of the kings of Israel and Judah.


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But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah’s reign, this Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem.


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<pb/>Josiah also got rid of the mediums and psychics, the household gods, the idols, and every other kind of detestable practice, both in Jerusalem and throughout the land of Judah. He did this in obedience to the laws written in the scroll that Hilkiah the priest had found in the Lord’s Temple.


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Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.


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<pb/>Even so, the Lord was very angry with Judah because of all the wicked things Manasseh had done to provoke him.


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For the Lord said, <t>“I will also banish Judah from my presence just as I have banished Israel. And I will reject my chosen city of Jerusalem and the Temple where my name was to be honored.”</t>


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Josiah’s reign and all his deeds are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


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While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, went to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah and his army marched out to fight him, but King Neco killed him when they met at Megiddo.


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Josiah’s officers took his body back in a chariot from Megiddo to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. Then the people of the land anointed Josiah’s son Jehoahaz and made him the next king.


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Jehoahaz Rules in Judah Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah.


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Pharaoh Neco put Jehoahaz in prison at Riblah in the land of Hamath to prevent him from ruling in Jerusalem. He also demanded that Judah pay 7,500 pounds of silver and 75 pounds of gold as tribute.


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Jehoiakim Rules in Judah Pharaoh Neco then installed Eliakim, another of Josiah’s sons, to reign in place of his father, and he changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. Jehoahaz was taken to Egypt as a prisoner, where he died.


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In order to get the silver and gold demanded as tribute by Pharaoh Neco, Jehoiakim collected a tax from the people of Judah, requiring them to pay in proportion to their wealth.


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Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother was Zebidah, the daughter of Pedaiah from Rumah.


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During Jehoiakim’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded the land of Judah. Jehoiakim surrendered and paid him tribute for three years but then rebelled.


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Then the Lord sent bands of Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Judah to destroy it, just as the Lord had promised through his prophets.


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These disasters happened to Judah because of the Lord’s command. He had decided to banish Judah from his presence because of the many sins of Manasseh,


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Jehoiakim’s reign and all his deeds are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.


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The king of Egypt did not venture out of his country after that, for the king of Babylon captured the entire area formerly claimed by Egypt—from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River.


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Jehoiachin Rules in Judah Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan from Jerusalem.


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<pb/>During Jehoiachin’s reign, the officers of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came up against Jerusalem and besieged it.


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Then King Jehoiachin, along with the queen mother, his advisers, his commanders, and his officials, surrendered to the Babylonians. In the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, he took Jehoiachin prisoner.


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As the Lord had said beforehand, Nebuchadnezzar carried away all the treasures from the Lord’s Temple and the royal palace. He stripped away all the gold objects that King Solomon of Israel had placed in the Temple.


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King Nebuchadnezzar took all of Jerusalem captive, including all the commanders and the best of the soldiers, craftsmen, and artisans—10,000 in all. Only the poorest people were left in the land.


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Nebuchadnezzar led King Jehoiachin away as a captive to Babylon, along with the queen mother, his wives and officials, and all Jerusalem’s elite.


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He also exiled 7,000 of the best troops and 1,000 craftsmen and artisans, all of whom were strong and fit for war.


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Then the king of Babylon installed Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, as the next king, and he changed Mattaniah’s name to Zedekiah.


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Zedekiah Rules in Judah Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah.


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<pb/>These things happened because of the Lord’s anger against the people of Jerusalem and Judah, until he finally banished them from his presence and sent them into exile. The Fall of Jerusalem Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.


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So on January 15, during the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led his entire army against Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and built siege ramps against its walls.


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By July 18 in the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign, the famine in the city had become very severe, and the last of the food was entirely gone.


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Then a section of the city wall was broken down. Since the city was surrounded by the Babylonians, the soldiers waited for nightfall and escaped through the gate between the two walls behind the king’s garden. Then they headed toward the Jordan Valley.


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But the Babylonian troops chased the king and overtook him on the plains of Jericho, for his men had all deserted him and scattered.


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They captured the king and took him to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where they pronounced judgment upon Zedekiah.


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They made Zedekiah watch as they slaughtered his sons. Then they gouged out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon.


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The Temple Destroyed On August 14 of that year, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard and an official of the Babylonian king, arrived in Jerusalem.


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He burned down the Temple of the Lord, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem. He destroyed all the important buildings in the city.


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Then he supervised the entire Babylonian army as they tore down the walls of Jerusalem on every side.


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Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took as exiles the rest of the people who remained in the city, the defectors who had declared their allegiance to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the population.


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But the captain of the guard allowed some of the poorest people to stay behind to care for the vineyards and fields.


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<pb/>The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars in front of the Lord’s Temple, the bronze water carts, and the great bronze basin called the Sea, and they carried all the bronze away to Babylon.


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They also took all the ash buckets, shovels, lamp snuffers, ladles, and all the other bronze articles used for making sacrifices at the Temple.


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The captain of the guard also took the incense burners and basins, and all the other articles made of pure gold or silver.


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The weight of the bronze from the two pillars, the Sea, and the water carts was too great to be measured. These things had been made for the Lord’s Temple in the days of Solomon.


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Each of the pillars was 27 feet tall. The bronze capital on top of each pillar was 7 1⁄2 feet high and was decorated with a network of bronze pomegranates all the way around.


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<pb/>Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took with him as prisoners Seraiah the high priest, Zephaniah the priest of the second rank, and the three chief gatekeepers.


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And from among the people still hiding in the city, he took an officer who had been in charge of the Judean army; five of the king’s personal advisers; the army commander’s chief secretary, who was in charge of recruitment; and sixty other citizens.


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And there at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon had them all put to death. So the people of Judah were sent into exile from their land.


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Gedaliah Governs in Judah Then King Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan as governor over the people he had left in Judah.


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When all the army commanders and their men learned that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they went to see him at Mizpah. These included Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, Jezaniah son of the Maacathite, and all their men.


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Gedaliah vowed to them that the Babylonian officials meant them no harm. <t>“Don’t be afraid of them. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and all will go well for you,”</t> he promised.


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But in midautumn of that year, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and grandson of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family, went to Mizpah with ten men and killed Gedaliah. He also killed all the Judeans and Babylonians who were with him at Mizpah.


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Then all the people of Judah, from the least to the greatest, as well as the army commanders, fled in panic to Egypt, for they were afraid of what the Babylonians would do to them.


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Hope for Israel’s Royal Line In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of King Jehoiachin of Judah, Evil-merodach ascended to the Babylonian throne. He was kind to Jehoiachin and released him from prison on April 2 of that year.


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He spoke kindly to Jehoiachin and gave him a higher place than all the other exiled kings in Babylon.


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He supplied Jehoiachin with new clothes to replace his prison garb and allowed him to dine in the king’s presence for the rest of his life.


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<t>Descendants of Japheth The descendants of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.</t>


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<pb/><t>The descendants of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The descendants of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.</t>


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<t>Descendants of Shem The descendants of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. The descendants of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.</t>


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<pb/>These are their genealogical records: The sons of Ishmael were Nebaioth (the oldest), Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,


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The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine, were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan were Sheba and Dedan.


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<pb/>The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Abraham through his concubine Keturah.


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<pb/><t>The descendants of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, Kenaz, and Amalek, who was born to Timna.</t>


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<t>Original Peoples of Edom The descendants of Seir were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.</t>


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<pb/><t>The descendants of Shobal were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. The descendants of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah.</t>


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<pb/><t>The son of Anah was Dishon. The descendants of Dishon were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Keran.</t>


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<pb/><t>The descendants of Ezer were Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. The descendants of Dishan were Uz and Aran.</t>


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Rulers of Edom These are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites: Bela son of Beor, who ruled from his city of Dinhabah.


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<pb/>When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad became king in his place and ruled from the city of Avith. He was the one who destroyed the Midianite army in the land of Moab.


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<pb/>When Baal-hanan died, Hadad became king in his place and ruled from the city of Pau. His wife was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred and granddaughter of Me-zahab.


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<pb/><t>Descendants of Israel The sons of Israel were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,</t>


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Descendants of Judah Judah had three sons from Bathshua, a Canaanite woman. Their names were Er, Onan, and Shelah. But the Lord saw that the oldest son, Er, was a wicked man, so he killed him.</t>


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<pb/>Later Judah had twin sons from Tamar, his widowed daughter-in-law. Their names were Perez and Zerah. So Judah had five sons in all.


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<pb/><t>The son of Carmi (a descendant of Zimri) was Achan, who brought disaster on Israel by taking plunder that had been set apart for the Lord.</t>


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<pb/><t>From Judah’s Grandson Hezron to David The sons of Hezron were Jerahmeel, Ram, and Caleb.</t>


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Their sisters were named Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah had three sons named Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.


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Other Descendants of Hezron Hezron’s son Caleb had sons from his wife Azubah and from Jerioth. Her sons were named Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.


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<pb/>When Hezron was sixty years old, he married Gilead’s sister, the daughter of Makir. They had a son named Segub.


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(But Geshur and Aram captured the Towns of Jair and also took Kenath and its sixty surrounding villages.) All these were descendants of Makir, the father of Gilead.


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<pb/>Soon after Hezron died in the town of Caleb-ephrathah, his wife Abijah gave birth to a son named Ashhur (the father of Tekoa).


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Descendants of Hezron’s Son Jerahmeel The sons of Jerahmeel, the oldest son of Hezron, were Ram (the firstborn), Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah.


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<pb/><t>but Appaim had a son named Ishi. The son of Ishi was Sheshan. Sheshan had a descendant named Ahlai.</t>


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<pb/><t>The sons of Jada, Shammai’s brother, were Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without children,</t>


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<pb/><t>but Jonathan had two sons named Peleth and Zaza. These were all descendants of Jerahmeel.</t>


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<pb/><t>Sheshan had no sons, though he did have daughters. He also had an Egyptian servant named Jarha.</t>


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Descendants of Hezron’s Son Caleb The descendants of Caleb, the brother of Jerahmeel, included Mesha (the firstborn), who became the father of Ziph. Caleb’s descendants also included the sons of Mareshah, the father of Hebron.


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<pb/>Shema was the father of Raham. Raham was the father of Jorkeam. Rekem was the father of Shammai.


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She also gave birth to Shaaph (the father of Madmannah) and Sheva (the father of Macbenah and Gibea). Caleb also had a daughter named Acsah.


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<pb/>These were all descendants of Caleb. Descendants of Caleb’s Son Hur The sons of Hur, the oldest son of Caleb’s wife Ephrathah, were Shobal (the founder of Kiriath-jearim),


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and the families of Kiriath-jearim—the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites, and Mishraites, from whom came the people of Zorah and Eshtaol.


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<pb/>The descendants of Salma were the people of Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab, the other half of the Manahathites, the Zorites,


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and the families of scribes living at Jabez—the Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Sucathites. All these were Kenites who descended from Hammath, the father of the family of Recab.


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<pb/>Descendants of David These are the sons of David who were born in Hebron: The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel. The second was Daniel, whose mother was Abigail from Carmel.


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<pb/>The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith.


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<pb/>The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital. The sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, David’s wife.


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<pb/>These six sons were born to David in Hebron, where he reigned seven and a half years. Then David reigned another thirty-three years in Jerusalem.


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The sons born to David in Jerusalem included Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon. Their mother was Bathsheba, the daughter of Ammiel.


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<pb/>These were the sons of David, not including his sons born to his concubines. Their sister was named Tamar.


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<pb/>The sons of Josiah were Johanan (the oldest), Jehoiakim (the second), Zedekiah (the third), and Jehoahaz (the fourth).


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<pb/>Descendants of Jehoiachin The sons of Jehoiachin, who was taken prisoner by the Babylonians, were Shealtiel,


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<pb/>The sons of Pedaiah were Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel were Meshullam and Hananiah. (Their sister was Shelomith.)


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<pb/>The sons of Hananiah were Pelatiah and Jeshaiah. Jeshaiah’s son was Rephaiah. Rephaiah’s son was Arnan. Arnan’s son was Obadiah. Obadiah’s son was Shecaniah.


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<pb/>The descendants of Shecaniah were Shemaiah and his sons, Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat—six in all.


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<pb/>The sons of Elioenai were Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani—seven in all.


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<pb/>Other Descendants of Judah The descendants of Judah were Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.


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<pb/>Shobal’s son Reaiah was the father of Jahath. Jahath was the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites.


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<pb/>Penuel (the father of Gedor), and Ezer (the father of Hushah). These were the descendants of Hur (the firstborn of Ephrathah), the ancestor of Bethlehem.


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<pb/>There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful.


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He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, <t>“Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!”</t> And God granted him his request.


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Eshton was the father of Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah. Tehinnah was the father of Ir-nahash. These were the descendants of Recah.


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Meonothai was the father of Ophrah. Seraiah was the father of Joab, the founder of the Valley of Craftsmen, so called because they were craftsmen.


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<t>The sons of Ezrah were Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. One of Mered’s wives became the mother of Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah (the father of Eshtemoa).</t>


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He married a woman from Judah, who became the mother of Jered (the father of Gedor), Heber (the father of Soco), and Jekuthiel (the father of Zanoah). Mered also married Bithia, a daughter of Pharaoh, and she bore him children.


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<pb/>Hodiah’s wife was the sister of Naham. One of her sons was the father of Keilah the Garmite, and another was the father of Eshtemoa the Maacathite.


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<t>The sons of Shimon were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. The descendants of Ishi were Zoheth and Ben-zoheth.</t>


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<pb/>Descendants of Judah’s Son Shelah Shelah was one of Judah’s sons. The descendants of Shelah were Er (the father of Lecah); Laadah (the father of Mareshah); the families of linen workers at Beth-ashbea;


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Jokim; the men of Cozeba; and Joash and Saraph, who ruled over Moab and Jashubi-lehem. These names all come from ancient records.


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They were the pottery makers who lived in Netaim and Gederah. They lived there and worked for the king.


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<pb/>Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but none of his brothers had large families. So Simeon’s tribe never grew as large as the tribe of Judah.


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Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These towns were under their control until the time of King David.


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and their surrounding villages as far away as Baalath. This was their territory, and these names are listed in their genealogical records.


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and they traveled to the region of Gerar, in the east part of the valley, seeking pastureland for their flocks.


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They found lush pastures there, and the land was spacious, quiet, and peaceful. Some of Ham’s descendants had been living in that region.


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But during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah, these leaders of Simeon invaded the region and completely destroyed the homes of the descendants of Ham and of the Meunites. No trace of them remains today. They killed everyone who lived there and took the land for themselves, because they wanted its good pastureland for their flocks.


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Five hundred of these invaders from the tribe of Simeon went to Mount Seir, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel—all sons of Ishi.


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<pb/>Descendants of Reuben The oldest son of Israel was Reuben. But since he dishonored his father by sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, his birthright was given to the sons of his brother Joseph. For this reason, Reuben is not listed in the genealogical records as the firstborn son.


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The descendants of Judah became the most powerful tribe and provided a ruler for the nation, but the birthright belonged to Joseph.


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and Beerah. Beerah was the leader of the Reubenites when they were taken into captivity by King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria.


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<pb/>Beerah’s relatives are listed in their genealogical records by their clans: Jeiel (the leader), Zechariah,


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and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel. The Reubenites lived in the area that stretches from Aroer to Nebo and Baal-meon.


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And since they had so many livestock in the land of Gilead, they spread east toward the edge of the desert that stretches to the Euphrates River.


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During the reign of Saul, the Reubenites defeated the Hagrites in battle. Then they moved into the Hagrite settlements all along the eastern edge of Gilead.


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Descendants of Gad Next to the Reubenites, the descendants of Gad lived in the land of Bashan as far east as Salecah.


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<pb/>Joel was the leader in the land of Bashan, and Shapham was second-in-command, followed by Janai and Shaphat.


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Their relatives, the leaders of seven other clans, were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber.


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<pb/>These were all descendants of Abihail son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz.


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The Gadites lived in the land of Gilead, in Bashan and its villages, and throughout all the pasturelands of Sharon.


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All of these were listed in the genealogical records during the days of King Jotham of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel.


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<pb/>The Tribes East of the Jordan There were 44,760 capable warriors in the armies of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They were all skilled in combat and armed with shields, swords, and bows.


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They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him. So the Hagrites and all their allies were defeated.


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The plunder taken from the Hagrites included 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep and goats, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 captives.


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Many of the Hagrites were killed in the battle because God was fighting against them. The people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh lived in their land until they were taken into exile.


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The half-tribe of Manasseh was very large and spread through the land from Bashan to Baal-hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon.


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<pb/>These were the leaders of their clans: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. These men had a great reputation as mighty warriors and leaders of their clans.


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But these tribes were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors. They worshiped the gods of the nations that God had destroyed.


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So the God of Israel caused King Pul of Assyria (also known as Tiglath-pileser) to invade the land and take away the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh as captives. The Assyrians exiled them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the Gozan River, where they remain to this day.


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<pb/><t>The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.</t>


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who went into exile when the Lord sent the people of Judah and Jerusalem into captivity under Nebuchadnezzar.


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<pb/><t>The descendants of Merari included Mahli and Mushi. The following were the Levite clans, listed according to their ancestral descent:


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The Temple Musicians David assigned the following men to lead the music at the house of the Lord after the Ark was placed there.


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They ministered with music at the Tabernacle until Solomon built the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They carried out their work, following all the regulations handed down to them.


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<pb/>These are the men who served, along with their sons: Heman the musician was from the clan of Kohath. His genealogy was traced back through Joel, Samuel,


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<pb/>Heman’s first assistant was Asaph from the clan of Gershon. Asaph’s genealogy was traced back through Berekiah, Shimea,


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<pb/>Heman’s second assistant was Ethan from the clan of Merari. Ethan’s genealogy was traced back through Kishi, Abdi, Malluch,


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<pb/>Their fellow Levites were appointed to various other tasks in the Tabernacle, the house of God.


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Aaron’s Descendants Only Aaron and his descendants served as priests. They presented the offerings on the altar of burnt offering and the altar of incense, and they performed all the other duties related to the Most Holy Place. They made atonement for Israel by doing everything that Moses, the servant of God, had commanded them.


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<pb/>Territory for the Levites This is a record of the towns and territory assigned by means of sacred lots to the descendants of Aaron, who were from the clan of Kohath.


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So the descendants of Aaron were given the following towns, each with its pasturelands: Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,


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<pb/>And from the territory of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth, each with its pasturelands. So thirteen towns were given to the descendants of Aaron.


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The remaining descendants of Kohath received ten towns from the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh by means of sacred lots.


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<pb/>The descendants of Gershon received by sacred lots thirteen towns from the territories of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and from the Bashan area of Manasseh, east of the Jordan.


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<pb/>The descendants of Merari received by sacred lots twelve towns from the territories of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.


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The towns in the territories of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, mentioned above, were assigned to them by means of sacred lots.


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<pb/>The descendants of Kohath were given the following towns from the territory of Ephraim, each with its pasturelands:


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<pb/>The remaining descendants of Kohath were assigned the towns of Aner and Bileam from the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh, each with its pasturelands.


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<pb/>The descendants of Gershon received the towns of Golan (in Bashan) and Ashtaroth from the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh, each with its pasturelands.


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<pb/>From the territory of Naphtali, they were given Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim, each with its pasturelands.


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<pb/>The remaining descendants of Merari received the towns of Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmon, and Tabor from the territory of Zebulun, each with its pasturelands.


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<pb/>From the territory of Reuben, east of the Jordan River opposite Jericho, they received Bezer (a desert town), Jahaz,


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<pb/>The sons of Tola were Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel. Each of them was the leader of an ancestral clan. At the time of King David, the total number of mighty warriors listed in the records of these clans was 22,600.


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<pb/>The son of Uzzi was Izrahiah. The sons of Izrahiah were Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah. These five became the leaders of clans.


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<pb/>All of them had many wives and many sons, so the total number of men available for military service among their descendants was 36,000.


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The total number of mighty warriors from all the clans of the tribe of Issachar was 87,000. All of them were listed in their genealogical records.


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<pb/>The five sons of Bela were Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri. Each of them was the leader of an ancestral clan. The total number of mighty warriors from these clans was 22,034, as listed in their genealogical records.


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<pb/>The sons of Beker were Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth.


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Each of them was the leader of an ancestral clan. The total number of mighty warriors and leaders from these clans was 20,200, as listed in their genealogical records.


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<pb/>The son of Jediael was Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Kenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar.


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Each of them was the leader of an ancestral clan. From these clans the total number of mighty warriors ready for war was 17,200.


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Descendants of Naphtali The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. They were all descendants of Jacob’s concubine Bilhah.


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Descendants of Manasseh The descendants of Manasseh through his Aramean concubine included Asriel. She also bore Makir, the father of Gilead.


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Makir found wives for Huppim and Shuppim. Makir had a sister named Maacah. One of his descendants was Zelophehad, who had only daughters.


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<pb/>Makir’s wife, Maacah, gave birth to a son whom she named Peresh. His brother’s name was Sheresh. The sons of Peresh were Ulam and Rakem.


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<pb/>The son of Ulam was Bedan. All these were considered Gileadites, descendants of Makir son of Manasseh.


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Zabad, Shuthelah, Ezer, and Elead. These two were killed trying to steal livestock from the local farmers near Gath.


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Afterward Ephraim slept with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Ephraim named him Beriah because of the tragedy his family had suffered.


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He had a daughter named Sheerah. She built the towns of Lower and Upper Beth-horon and Uzzen-sheerah.


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<pb/>The descendants of Ephraim lived in the territory that included Bethel and its surrounding towns to the south, Naaran to the east, Gezer and its villages to the west, and Shechem and its surrounding villages to the north as far as Ayyah and its towns.


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Along the border of Manasseh were the towns of Beth-shan, Taanach, Megiddo, Dor, and their surrounding villages. The descendants of Joseph son of Israel lived in these towns.


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<t>Descendants of Asher The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. They had a sister named Serah.</t>


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<pb/>Each of these descendants of Asher was the head of an ancestral clan. They were all select men—mighty warriors and outstanding leaders. The total number of men available for military service was 26,000, as listed in their genealogical records.


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<pb/>Descendants of Benjamin Benjamin’s first son was Bela, the second was Ashbel, the third was Aharah,


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Ehud’s sons were Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera. Gera, who led them into exile, was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.


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<pb/>The sons of Elpaal were Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built the towns of Ono and Lod and their nearby villages),


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Beriah, and Shema. They were the leaders of the clans living in Aijalon, and they drove out the inhabitants of Gath.


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These were the leaders of the ancestral clans; they were listed in their genealogical records, and they all lived in Jerusalem.


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<pb/>The Family of Saul Jeiel (the father of Gibeon) lived in the town of Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maacah,


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<pb/>and Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeam. All these families lived near each other in Jerusalem.


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<pb/>Ner was the father of Kish. Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malkishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.


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<pb/>Ahaz was the father of Jadah. Jadah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza.


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Moza was the father of Binea. Binea was the father of Rephaiah. Rephaiah was the father of Eleasah. Eleasah was the father of Azel.


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<pb/>Azel had six sons: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.


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<pb/>Azel’s brother Eshek had three sons: the first was Ulam, the second was Jeush, and the third was Eliphelet.


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Ulam’s sons were all mighty warriors and expert archers. They had many sons and grandsons—150 in all. All these were descendants of Benjamin.


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So all Israel was listed in the genealogical records in The Book of the Kings of Israel. The Returning Exiles The people of Judah were exiled to Babylon because they were unfaithful to the Lord.


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The first of the exiles to return to their property in their former towns were priests, Levites, Temple servants, and other Israelites.


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Some of the people from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh came and settled in Jerusalem.


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<pb/>One family that returned was that of Uthai son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah.


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<pb/>From the Zerahite clan, Jeuel returned with his relatives. In all, 690 families from the tribe of Judah returned.


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Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, son of Micri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah.


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<pb/>These men were all leaders of clans, and they were listed in their genealogical records. In all, 956 families from the tribe of Benjamin returned.


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Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub. Azariah was the chief officer of the house of God.


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Other returning priests were Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malkijah, and Maasai son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer.


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<pb/>In all, 1,760 priests returned. They were heads of clans and very able men. They were responsible for ministering at the house of God.


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<pb/>The Returning Levites The Levites who returned were Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, a descendant of Merari;


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Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun; and Berekiah son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who lived in the area of Netophah.


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<pb/>The gatekeepers who returned were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives. Shallum was the chief gatekeeper.


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Prior to this time, they were responsible for the King’s Gate on the east side. These men served as gatekeepers for the camps of the Levites.


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<pb/>Shallum was the son of Kore, a descendant of Abiasaph, from the clan of Korah. He and his relatives, the Korahites, were responsible for guarding the entrance to the sanctuary, just as their ancestors had guarded the Tabernacle in the camp of the Lord.


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Phinehas son of Eleazar had been in charge of the gatekeepers in earlier times, and the Lord had been with him.


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<pb/>In all, there were 212 gatekeepers in those days, and they were listed according to the genealogies in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed their ancestors because they were reliable men.


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These gatekeepers and their descendants, by their divisions, were responsible for guarding the entrance to the house of the Lord when that house was a tent.


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The four chief gatekeepers, all Levites, were trusted officials, for they were responsible for the rooms and treasuries at the house of God.


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They would spend the night around the house of God, since it was their duty to guard it and to open the gates every morning.


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Some of the gatekeepers were assigned to care for the various articles used in worship. They checked them in and out to avoid any loss.


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Others were responsible for the furnishings, the items in the sanctuary, and the supplies, such as choice flour, wine, olive oil, frankincense, and spices.


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Mattithiah, a Levite and the oldest son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with baking the bread used in the offerings.


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And some members of the clan of Kohath were in charge of preparing the bread to be set on the table each Sabbath day.


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<pb/>The musicians, all prominent Levites, lived at the Temple. They were exempt from other responsibilities since they were on duty at all hours.


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All these men lived in Jerusalem. They were the heads of Levite families and were listed as prominent leaders in their genealogical records.


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King Saul’s Family Tree Jeiel (the father of Gibeon) lived in the town of Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maacah,


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Moza was the father of Binea. Binea’s son was Rephaiah. Rephaiah’s son was Eleasah. Eleasah’s son was Azel.


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<pb/>Azel had six sons, whose names were Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.


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<pb/>The Death of King Saul Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa.


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The fighting grew very fierce around Saul, and the Philistine archers caught up with him and wounded him.


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Saul groaned to his armor bearer, <t>“Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to taunt and torture me.”</t> But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.


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When all the Israelites in the Jezreel Valley saw that their army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled. So the Philistines moved in and occupied their towns.


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<pb/>The next day, when the Philistines went out to strip the dead, they found the bodies of Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa.


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So they stripped off Saul’s armor and cut off his head. Then they proclaimed the good news of Saul’s death before their idols and to the people throughout the land of Philistia.


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They placed his armor in the temple of their gods, and they fastened his head to the temple of Dagon.


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all their mighty warriors brought the bodies of Saul and his sons back to Jabesh. Then they buried their bones beneath the great tree at Jabesh, and they fasted for seven days.


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<pb/>So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He failed to obey the Lord’s command, and he even consulted a medium


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instead of asking the Lord for guidance. So the Lord killed him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.


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<pb/>David Becomes King of All Israel Then all Israel gathered before David at Hebron and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood.


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In the past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the Lord your God told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be the leader of my people Israel.’”</t>


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So there at Hebron, David made a covenant before the Lord with all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel, just as the Lord had promised through Samuel.


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David Captures Jerusalem Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (or Jebus, as it used to be called), where the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of the land, were living.


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The people of Jebus taunted David, saying, <t>“You’ll never get in here!”</t> But David captured the fortress of Zion, which is now called the City of David.


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David had said to his troops, <t>“Whoever is first to attack the Jebusites will become the commander of my armies!”</t> And Joab, the son of David’s sister Zeruiah, was first to attack, so he became the commander of David’s armies.


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He extended the city from the supporting terraces to the surrounding area, while Joab rebuilt the rest of Jerusalem.


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David’s Mightiest Warriors These are the leaders of David’s mighty warriors. Together with all Israel, they decided to make David their king, just as the Lord had promised concerning Israel.


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Here is the record of David’s mightiest warriors: The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three—the mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle.


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He was with David when the Philistines gathered for battle at Pas-dammim and attacked the Israelites in a field full of barley. The Israelite army fled,


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but Eleazar and David held their ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord saved them by giving them a great victory.


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<pb/>Once when David was at the rock near the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there.


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So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord.


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“God forbid that I should drink this!”</t> he exclaimed. <t>“This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.”</t> So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.


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<pb/>David’s Thirty Mighty Men Abishai, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three.


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Once, armed only with a club, he killed an Egyptian warrior who was 7 1⁄2 feet tall and who was armed with a spear as thick as a weaver’s beam. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it.


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<t>David’s mighty warriors also included: Asahel, Joab’s brother; Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;</t>


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<pb/>Warriors Join David’s Army The following men joined David at Ziklag while he was hiding from Saul son of Kish. They were among the warriors who fought beside David in battle.


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All of them were expert archers, and they could shoot arrows or sling stones with their left hand as well as their right. They were all relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin.


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<t>Their leader was Ahiezer son of Shemaah from Gibeah; his brother Joash was second-in-command. These were the other warriors: Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth; Beracah; Jehu from Anathoth;</t>


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<t>Ishmaiah from Gibeon, a famous warrior and leader among the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad from Gederah;</t>


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<pb/>Some brave and experienced warriors from the tribe of Gad also defected to David while he was at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were expert with both shield and spear, as fierce as lions and as swift as deer on the mountains.


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These warriors from Gad were army commanders. The weakest among them could take on a hundred regular troops, and the strongest could take on a thousand!


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These were the men who crossed the Jordan River during its seasonal flooding at the beginning of the year and drove out all the people living in the lowlands on both the east and west banks.


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David went out to meet them and said, <t>“If you have come in peace to help me, we are friends. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when I am innocent, then may the God of our ancestors see it and punish you.”</t>


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Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the leader of the Thirty, and he said, <t>“We are yours, David! We are on your side, son of Jesse. Peace and prosperity be with you, and success to all who help you, for your God is the one who helps you.”</t> So David let them join him, and he made them officers over his troops.


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<pb/>Some men from Manasseh defected from the Israelite army and joined David when he set out with the Philistines to fight against Saul. But as it turned out, the Philistine rulers refused to let David and his men go with them. After much discussion, they sent them back, for they said, “It will cost us our heads if David switches loyalties to Saul and turns against us.”


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Here is a list of the men from Manasseh who defected to David as he was returning to Ziklag: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. Each commanded 1,000 troops from the tribe of Manasseh.


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They helped David chase down bands of raiders, for they were all brave and able warriors who became commanders in his army.


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These are the numbers of armed warriors who joined David at Hebron. They were all eager to see David become king instead of Saul, just as the Lord had promised.


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This also included Zadok, a brave young warrior, with 22 members of his family who were all officers.


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<pb/>From the tribe of Benjamin, Saul’s relatives, there were 3,000 warriors. Most of the men from Benjamin had remained loyal to Saul until this time.


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<pb/>From the tribe of Ephraim, there were 20,800 brave warriors, each highly respected in his own clan.


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<pb/>From the half-tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan, 18,000 men were designated by name to help David become king.


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<pb/>From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.


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<pb/>From the tribe of Zebulun, there were 50,000 skilled warriors. They were fully armed and prepared for battle and completely loyal to David.


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<pb/>From the tribe of Naphtali, there were 1,000 officers and 37,000 warriors armed with shields and spears.


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<pb/>From the east side of the Jordan River—where the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh lived—there were 120,000 troops armed with every kind of weapon.


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<pb/>All these men came in battle array to Hebron with the single purpose of making David the king over all Israel. In fact, everyone in Israel agreed that David should be their king.


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They feasted and drank with David for three days, for preparations had been made by their relatives for their arrival.


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And people from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. Vast supplies of flour, fig cakes, clusters of raisins, wine, olive oil, cattle, sheep, and goats were brought to the celebration. There was great joy throughout the land of Israel.


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<pb/>David Attempts to Move the Ark David consulted with all his officials, including the generals and captains of his army.


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Then he addressed the entire assembly of Israel as follows: <t>“If you approve and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send messages to all the Israelites throughout the land, including the priests and Levites in their towns and pasturelands. Let us invite them to come and join us.


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So David summoned all Israel, from the Shihor Brook of Egypt in the south all the way to the town of Lebo-hamath in the north, to join in bringing the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.


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Then David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (also called Kiriath-jearim) to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord who is enthroned between the cherubim.


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<pb/>They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart.


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David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.


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But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark.


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Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God.


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David was now afraid of God, and he asked, <t>“How can I ever bring the Ark of God back into my care?”</t>


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So David did not move the Ark into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath.


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The Ark of God remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and everything he owned.


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<pb/>David’s Palace and Family Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar timber, and stonemasons and carpenters to build him a palace.


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And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had greatly blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.


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<pb/>David Conquers the Philistines When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he marched out to meet them.


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So David asked God, <t>“Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”</t> The Lord replied, <t>“Yes, go ahead. I will hand them over to you.”</t>


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So David and his troops went up to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. <t>“God did it!”</t> David exclaimed. <t>“He used me to burst through my enemies like a raging flood!”</t> So they named that place Baal-perazim (which means <t>“the Lord who bursts through”).


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And once again David asked God what to do. <t>“Do not attack them straight on,”</t> God replied. <t>“Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees.


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When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, go out and attack! That will be the signal that God is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.”</t>


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So David did what God commanded, and they struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.


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<pb/>Preparing to Move the Ark David now built several buildings for himself in the City of David. He also prepared a place for the Ark of God and set up a special tent for it.


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Then he commanded, <t>“No one except the Levites may carry the Ark of God. The Lord has chosen them to carry the Ark of the Lord and to serve him forever.”</t>


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Then David summoned all Israel to Jerusalem to bring the Ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it.


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This is the number of the descendants of Aaron (the priests) and the Levites who were called together:


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<pb/>Then David summoned the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, and these Levite leaders: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.


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He said to them, <t>“You are the leaders of the Levite families. You must purify yourselves and all your fellow Levites, so you can bring the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.


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Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the Lord our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly.”</t>


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So the priests and the Levites purified themselves in order to bring the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to Jerusalem.


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Then the Levites carried the Ark of God on their shoulders with its carrying poles, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.


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<pb/>David also ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals.


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So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel along with his fellow Levites: Asaph son of Berekiah, and Ethan son of Kushaiah from the clan of Merari.


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The following men were chosen as their assistants: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers—Obed-edom and Jeiel.


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Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were chosen to play the harps.


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Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—all of whom were priests—were chosen to blow the trumpets as they marched in front of the Ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were chosen to guard the Ark.


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<pb/>Moving the Ark to Jerusalem Then David and the elders of Israel and the generals of the army went to the house of Obed-edom to bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant up to Jerusalem with a great celebration.


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And because God was clearly helping the Levites as they carried the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.


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David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who carried the Ark, and also the singers, and Kenaniah the choir leader. David was also wearing a priestly garment.


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So all Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant with shouts of joy, the blowing of rams’ horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres.


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But as the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David skipping about and laughing with joy, she was filled with contempt for him.


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<pb/>They brought the Ark of God and placed it inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.


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Then he gave to every man and woman in all Israel a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins.


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David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the Lord—to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel.


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Asaph, the leader of this group, sounded the cymbals. Second to him was Zechariah, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They played the harps and lyres.


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<t>David’s Song of Praise On that day David gave to Asaph and his fellow Levites this song of thanksgiving to the Lord:</t>


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<t>Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.</t>


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<t>He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant:</t>


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<t>Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.</t>


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<t>Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.</t>


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<t>Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!</t>


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<t>Let the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth.</t>


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<t>Cry out, “Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you.”</t>


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<t>Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting! And all the people shouted “Amen!” and praised the Lord.</t>


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Worship at Jerusalem and Gibeon David arranged for Asaph and his fellow Levites to serve regularly before the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, doing whatever needed to be done each day.


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This group included Obed-edom (son of Jeduthun), Hosah, and sixty-eight other Levites as gatekeepers.


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Meanwhile, David stationed Zadok the priest and his fellow priests at the Tabernacle of the Lord at the place of worship in Gibeon, where they continued to minister before the Lord.


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They sacrificed the regular burnt offerings to the Lord each morning and evening on the altar set aside for that purpose, obeying everything written in the Law of the Lord, as he had commanded Israel.


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David also appointed Heman, Jeduthun, and the others chosen by name to give thanks to the Lord, for <t>“his faithful love endures forever.”</t>


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They used their trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments to accompany their songs of praise to God. And the sons of Jeduthun were appointed as gatekeepers.


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<pb/>Then all the people returned to their homes, and David turned and went home to bless his own family.


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<pb/>The Lord’s Covenant Promise to David When David was settled in his palace, he summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant is out there under a tent!”


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“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: You are not the one to build a house for me to live in.


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I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. My home has always been a tent, moving from one place to another in a Tabernacle.


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Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s leaders, the shepherds of my people. I have never asked them, <t>“Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?”’


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starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will defeat all your enemies. <t>“‘Furthermore, I declare that the Lord will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!


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For when you die and join your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong.


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I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my favor from him as I took it from the one who ruled before you.


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I will confirm him as king over my house and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever.’”</t>


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David’s Prayer of Thanks Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, <t>“Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?


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And now, O God, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! You speak as though I were someone very great, O Lord God!


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“What more can I say to you about the way you have honored me? You know what your servant is really like.


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For the sake of your servant, O Lord, and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known.


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What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations that stood in their way.


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“And now, O Lord, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. May it be a promise that will last forever.


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And may your name be established and honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever.


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“O my God, I have been bold enough to pray to you because you have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him—a dynasty of kings!


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And now, it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, so that it will continue forever before you. For when you grant a blessing, O Lord, it is an eternal blessing!”</t>


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<pb/>David’s Military Victories After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines by conquering Gath and its surrounding towns.


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<pb/>David also conquered the land of Moab, and the Moabites who were spared became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money.


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<pb/>David also destroyed the forces of Hadadezer, king of Zobah, as far as Hamath, when Hadadezer marched out to strengthen his control along the Euphrates River.


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along with a large amount of bronze from Hadadezer’s towns of Tebah and Cun. Later Solomon melted the bronze and molded it into the great bronze basin called the Sea, the pillars, and the various bronze articles used at the Temple.


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<pb/>When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had destroyed the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah,


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he sent his son Joram to congratulate King David for his successful campaign. Hadadezer and Toi had been enemies and were often at war. Joram presented David with many gifts of gold, silver, and bronze.


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King David dedicated all these gifts to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had taken from the other nations—from Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek.


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He placed army garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. In fact, the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.


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Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard. And David’s sons served as the king’s chief assistants.


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David said, <t>“I am going to show loyalty to Hanun because his father, Nahash, was always loyal to me.”</t> So David sent messengers to express sympathy to Hanun about his father’s death. But when David’s ambassadors arrived in the land of Ammon,


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the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, <t>“Do you really think these men are coming here to honor your father? No! David has sent them to spy out the land so they can come in and conquer it!”</t>


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So Hanun seized David’s ambassadors and shaved them, cut off their robes at the buttocks, and sent them back to David in shame.


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When David heard what had happened to the men, he sent messengers to tell them, <t>“Stay at Jericho until your beards grow out, and then come back.”</t> For they felt deep shame because of their appearance.


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<pb/>When the people of Ammon realized how seriously they had angered David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent 75,000 pounds of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.


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They also hired 32,000 chariots and secured the support of the king of Maacah and his army. These forces camped at Medeba, where they were joined by the Ammonite troops that Hanun had recruited from his own towns.


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The Ammonite troops came out and drew up their battle lines at the entrance of the city, while the other kings positioned themselves to fight in the open fields.


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When Joab saw that he would have to fight on both the front and the rear, he chose some of Israel’s elite troops and placed them under his personal command to fight the Arameans in the fields.


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“If the Arameans are too strong for me, then come over and help me,”</t> Joab told his brother. <t>“And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will help you.


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And when the Ammonites saw the Arameans running, they also ran from Abishai and retreated into the city. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem.


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<pb/>The Arameans now realized that they were no match for Israel, so they sent messengers and summoned additional Aramean troops from the other side of the Euphrates River. These troops were under the command of Shobach, the commander of Hadadezer’s forces.


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When David heard what was happening, he mobilized all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and positioned his troops in battle formation. Then David engaged the Arameans in battle, and they fought against him.


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But again the Arameans fled from the Israelites. This time David’s forces killed 7,000 charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers, including Shobach, the commander of their army.


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When Hadadezer’s allies saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they surrendered to David and became his subjects. After that, the Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.


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David Captures Rabbah In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, Joab led the Israelite army in successful attacks against the land of the Ammonites. In the process he laid siege to the city of Rabbah, attacking and destroying it. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.


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Then David went to Rabbah and removed the crown from the king’s head, and it was placed on his own head. The crown was made of gold and set with gems, and he found that it weighed seventy-five pounds. David took a vast amount of plunder from the city.


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He also made slaves of the people of Rabbah and forced them to labor with saws, iron picks, and iron axes. That is how David dealt with the people of all the Ammonite towns. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.


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Battles against Philistine Giants After this, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. As they fought, Sibbecai from Hushah killed Saph, a descendant of the giants, and so the Philistines were subdued.


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<pb/>During another battle with the Philistines, Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath of Gath. The handle of Lahmi’s spear was as thick as a weaver’s beam!


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<pb/>In another battle with the Philistines at Gath, they encountered a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all, who was also a descendant of the giants.


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<pb/>These Philistines were descendants of the giants of Gath, but David and his warriors killed them.


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<pb/>David Takes a Census Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel.


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So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, <t>“Take a census of all the people of Israel—from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north—and bring me a report so I may know how many there are.”</t>


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But Joab replied, <t>“May the Lord increase the number of his people a hundred times over! But why, my lord the king, do you want to do this? Are they not all your servants? Why must you cause Israel to sin?”</t>


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<pb/>But the king insisted that they take the census, so Joab traveled throughout all Israel to count the people. Then he returned to Jerusalem


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and reported the number of people to David. There were 1,100,000 warriors in all Israel who could handle a sword, and 470,000 in Judah.


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But Joab did not include the tribes of Levi and Benjamin in the census because he was so distressed at what the king had made him do.


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<pb/>Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt for doing this foolish thing.”


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You may choose three years of famine, three months of destruction by the sword of your enemies, or three days of severe plague as the angel of the Lord brings devastation throughout the land of Israel. Decide what answer I should give the Lord who sent me.”</t>


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“I’m in a desperate situation!”</t> David replied to Gad. <t>“But let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is very great. Do not let me fall into human hands.”</t>


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<pb/>And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But just as the angel was preparing to destroy it, the Lord relented and said to the death angel, “Stop! That is enough!” At that moment the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.


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David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between heaven and earth with his sword drawn, reaching out over Jerusalem. So David and the leaders of Israel put on burlap to show their deep distress and fell face down on the ground.


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And David said to God, <t>“I am the one who called for the census! I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? O Lord my God, let your anger fall against me and my family, but do not destroy your people.”</t>


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<pb/>David Builds an Altar Then the angel of the Lord told Gad to instruct David to go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.


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Araunah, who was busy threshing wheat at the time, turned and saw the angel there. His four sons, who were with him, ran away and hid.


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When Araunah saw David approaching, he left his threshing floor and bowed before David with his face to the ground.


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David said to Araunah, <t>“Let me buy this threshing floor from you at its full price. Then I will build an altar to the Lord there, so that he will stop the plague.”</t>


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“Take it, my lord the king, and use it as you wish,”</t> Araunah said to David. <t>“I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, and the threshing boards for wood to build a fire on the altar, and the wheat for the grain offering. I will give it all to you.”</t>


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But King David replied to Araunah, <t>“No, I insist on buying it for the full price. I will not take what is yours and give it to the Lord. I will not present burnt offerings that have cost me nothing!”</t>


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David built an altar there to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And when David prayed, the Lord answered him by sending fire from heaven to burn up the offering on the altar.


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<pb/>When David saw that the Lord had answered his prayer, he offered sacrifices there at Araunah’s threshing floor.


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At that time the Tabernacle of the Lord and the altar of burnt offering that Moses had made in the wilderness were located at the place of worship in Gibeon.


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But David was not able to go there to inquire of God, because he was terrified by the drawn sword of the angel of the Lord.


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Then David said, <t>“This will be the location for the Temple of the Lord God and the place of the altar for Israel’s burnt offerings!”</t>


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Preparations for the Temple So David gave orders to call together the foreigners living in Israel, and he assigned them the task of preparing finished stone for building the Temple of God.


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David provided large amounts of iron for the nails that would be needed for the doors in the gates and for the clamps, and he gave more bronze than could be weighed.


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He also provided innumerable cedar logs, for the men of Tyre and Sidon had brought vast amounts of cedar to David.


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<pb/>David said, “My son Solomon is still young and inexperienced. And since the Temple to be built for the Lord must be a magnificent structure, famous and glorious throughout the world, I will begin making preparations for it now.” So David collected vast amounts of building materials before his death.


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<pb/>Then David sent for his son Solomon and instructed him to build a Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel.


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“But the Lord said to me, ‘You have killed many men in the battles you have fought. And since you have shed so much blood in my sight, you will not be the one to build a Temple to honor my name.


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But you will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him peace with his enemies in all the surrounding lands. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign.


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He is the one who will build a Temple to honor my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will secure the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’


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<pb/>“Now, my son, may the Lord be with you and give you success as you follow his directions in building the Temple of the Lord your God.


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And may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding, that you may obey the Law of the Lord your God as you rule over Israel.


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For you will be successful if you carefully obey the decrees and regulations that the Lord gave to Israel through Moses. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart!


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“I have worked hard to provide materials for building the Temple of the Lord—nearly 4,000 tons of gold, 40,000 tons of silver, and so much iron and bronze that it cannot be weighed. I have also gathered timber and stone for the walls, though you may need to add more.


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You have expert goldsmiths and silversmiths and workers of bronze and iron. Now begin the work, and may the Lord be with you!”</t>


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“The Lord your God is with you,”</t> he declared. <t>“He has given you peace with the surrounding nations. He has handed them over to me, and they are now subject to the Lord and his people.


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Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. Build the sanctuary of the Lord God so that you can bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant and the holy vessels of God into the Temple built to honor the Lord’s name.”</t>


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<pb/>Duties of the Levites When David was an old man, he appointed his son Solomon to be king over Israel.


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Then David said, <t>“From all the Levites, 24,000 will supervise the work at the Temple of the Lord. Another 6,000 will serve as officials and judges.


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Another 4,000 will work as gatekeepers, and 4,000 will praise the Lord with the musical instruments I have made.”</t>


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Then David divided the Levites into divisions named after the clans descended from the three sons of Levi—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.


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<pb/>The Gershonites The Gershonite family units were defined by their lines of descent from Libni and Shimei, the sons of Gershon.


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<pb/>These were the leaders of the family of Libni. Three of the descendants of Shimei were Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran.


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Jahath was the family leader, and Ziza was next. Jeush and Beriah were counted as a single family because neither had many sons.


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<pb/>The sons of Amram were Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart to dedicate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices in the Lord’s presence, to serve the Lord, and to pronounce blessings in his name forever.


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<t>The descendants of Hebron included Jeriah (the family leader), Amariah (the second), Jahaziel (the third), and Jekameam (the fourth).</t>


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<t>The Merarites The descendants of Merari included Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli were Eleazar and Kish.</t>


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<pb/>Eleazar died with no sons, only daughters. His daughters married their cousins, the sons of Kish.


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<pb/>These were the descendants of Levi by clans, the leaders of their family groups, registered carefully by name. Each had to be twenty years old or older to qualify for service in the house of the Lord.


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For David said, <t>“The Lord, the God of Israel, has given us peace, and he will always live in Jerusalem.


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Now the Levites will no longer need to carry the Tabernacle and its furnishings from place to place.”</t>


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In accordance with David’s final instructions, all the Levites twenty years old or older were registered for service.


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<pb/>The work of the Levites was to assist the priests, the descendants of Aaron, as they served at the house of the Lord. They also took care of the courtyards and side rooms, helped perform the ceremonies of purification, and served in many other ways in the house of God.


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They were in charge of the sacred bread that was set out on the table, the choice flour for the grain offerings, the wafers made without yeast, the cakes cooked in olive oil, and the other mixed breads. They were also responsible to check all the weights and measures.


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They assisted with the burnt offerings that were presented to the Lord on Sabbath days, at new moon celebrations, and at all the appointed festivals. The required number of Levites served in the Lord’s presence at all times, following all the procedures they had been given.


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And so, under the supervision of the priests, the Levites watched over the Tabernacle and the Temple and faithfully carried out their duties of service at the house of the Lord.


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<pb/><t>Duties of the Priests This is how Aaron’s descendants, the priests, were divided into groups for service. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.</t>


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<pb/>But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no sons. So only Eleazar and Ithamar were left to carry on as priests.


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<pb/>With the help of Zadok, who was a descendant of Eleazar, and of Ahimelech, who was a descendant of Ithamar, David divided Aaron’s descendants into groups according to their various duties.


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Eleazar’s descendants were divided into sixteen groups and Ithamar’s into eight, for there were more family leaders among the descendants of Eleazar.


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All tasks were assigned to the various groups by means of sacred lots so that no preference would be shown, for there were many qualified officials serving God in the sanctuary from among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.


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Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, acted as secretary and wrote down the names and assignments in the presence of the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the family leaders of the priests and Levites. The descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar took turns casting lots.


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<pb/>Each group carried out its appointed duties in the house of the Lord according to the procedures established by their ancestor Aaron in obedience to the commands of the Lord, the God of Israel.


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<t>Family Leaders among the Levites These were the other family leaders descended from Levi: From the descendants of Amram, the leader was Shebuel. From the descendants of Shebuel, the leader was Jehdeiah.</t>


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<t>From the descendants of Izhar, the leader was Shelomith. From the descendants of Shelomith, the leader was Jahath.</t>


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<t>From the descendants of Hebron, Jeriah was the leader, Amariah was second, Jahaziel was third, and Jekameam was fourth.</t>


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<t>From the descendants of Uzziel, the leader was Micah. From the descendants of Micah, the leader was Shamir,</t>


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<pb/>along with Isshiah, the brother of Micah. From the descendants of Isshiah, the leader was Zechariah.


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<pb/>From the descendants of Merari, the leaders were Mahli and Mushi. From the descendants of Jaaziah, the leader was Beno.


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<pb/>From the descendants of Merari through Jaaziah, the leaders were Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.


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<pb/>From the descendants of Mushi, the leaders were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the descendants of Levi in their various families.


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<pb/>Like the descendants of Aaron, they were assigned to their duties by means of sacred lots, without regard to age or rank. Lots were drawn in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the family leaders of the priests and the Levites.


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<pb/>Duties of the Musicians David and the army commanders then appointed men from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to proclaim God’s messages to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. Here is a list of their names and their work:


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<pb/>From the sons of Asaph, there were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. They worked under the direction of their father, Asaph, who proclaimed God’s messages by the king’s orders.


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<pb/>From the sons of Jeduthun, there were Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six in all. They worked under the direction of their father, Jeduthun, who proclaimed God’s messages to the accompaniment of the lyre, offering thanks and praise to the Lord.


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<pb/>From the sons of Heman, there were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.


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All these were the sons of Heman, the king’s seer, for God had honored him with fourteen sons and three daughters.


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<pb/>All these men were under the direction of their fathers as they made music at the house of the Lord. Their responsibilities included the playing of cymbals, harps, and lyres at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman reported directly to the king.


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They and their families were all trained in making music before the Lord, and each of them—288 in all—was an accomplished musician.


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<pb/>The musicians were appointed to their term of service by means of sacred lots, without regard to whether they were young or old, teacher or student.


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<pb/>The first lot fell to Joseph of the Asaph clan and twelve of his sons and relatives. The second lot fell to Gedaliah and twelve of his sons and relatives.


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<pb/>Duties of the Gatekeepers These are the divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites, there was Meshelemiah son of Kore, of the family of Abiasaph.


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<pb/>The sons of Meshelemiah were Zechariah (the oldest), Jediael (the second), Zebadiah (the third), Jathniel (the fourth),


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<pb/>The sons of Obed-edom, also gatekeepers, were Shemaiah (the oldest), Jehozabad (the second), Joah (the third), Sacar (the fourth), Nethanel (the fifth),


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Ammiel (the sixth), Issachar (the seventh), and Peullethai (the eighth). God had richly blessed Obed-edom.


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<pb/>Obed-edom’s son Shemaiah had sons with great ability who earned positions of great authority in the clan.


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Their names were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. Their relatives, Elihu and Semakiah, were also very capable men.


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<pb/>All of these descendants of Obed-edom, including their sons and grandsons—sixty-two of them in all—were very capable men, well qualified for their work.


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<pb/>Hosah, of the Merari clan, appointed Shimri as the leader among his sons, though he was not the oldest.


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His other sons included Hilkiah (the second), Tebaliah (the third), and Zechariah (the fourth). Hosah’s sons and relatives, who served as gatekeepers, numbered thirteen in all.


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<pb/>These divisions of the gatekeepers were named for their family leaders, and like the other Levites, they served at the house of the Lord.


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<pb/>They were assigned by families for guard duty at the various gates, without regard to age or training, for it was all decided by means of sacred lots.


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The responsibility for the east gate went to Meshelemiah and his group. The north gate was assigned to his son Zechariah, a man of unusual wisdom.


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Shuppim and Hosah were assigned the west gate and the gateway leading up to the Temple. Guard duties were divided evenly.


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Six Levites were assigned each day to the east gate, four to the north gate, four to the south gate, and two pairs at the storehouse.


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Six were assigned each day to the west gate, four to the gateway leading up to the Temple, and two to the courtyard.


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Treasurers and Other Officials Other Levites, led by Ahijah, were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the gifts dedicated to the Lord.


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The sons of Jehiel, Zetham and his brother Joel, were in charge of the treasuries of the house of the Lord.


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<pb/>From the clan of Amram, Shebuel was a descendant of Gershom son of Moses. He was the chief officer of the treasuries.


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Shelomoth and his relatives were in charge of the treasuries containing the gifts that King David, the family leaders, and the generals and captains and other officers of the army had dedicated to the Lord.


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These men dedicated some of the plunder they had gained in battle to maintain the house of the Lord.


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Shelomoth and his relatives also cared for the gifts dedicated to the Lord by Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah. All the other dedicated gifts were in their care, too.


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<pb/>From the clan of Izhar came Kenaniah. He and his sons were given administrative responsibilities over Israel as officials and judges.


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<pb/>From the clan of Hebron came Hashabiah. He and his relatives—1,700 capable men—were put in charge of the Israelite lands west of the Jordan River. They were responsible for all matters related to the things of the Lord and the service of the king in that area.


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<pb/>Also from the clan of Hebron came Jeriah, who was the leader of the Hebronites according to the genealogical records. (In the fortieth year of David’s reign, a search was made in the records, and capable men from the clan of Hebron were found at Jazer in the land of Gilead.)


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There were 2,700 capable men among the relatives of Jeriah. King David sent them to the east side of the Jordan River and put them in charge of the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They were responsible for all matters related to God and to the king.


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<pb/>Military Commanders and Divisions This is the list of Israelite generals and captains, and their officers, who served the king by supervising the army divisions that were on duty each month of the year. Each division served for one month and had 24,000 troops.


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<pb/>Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was commander of the first division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the first month.


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<pb/>Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah, was commander of the second division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the second month. Mikloth was his chief officer.


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<pb/>Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest was commander of the third division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the third month.


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This was the Benaiah who commanded David’s elite military group known as the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was his chief officer.


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<pb/>Asahel, the brother of Joab, was commander of the fourth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the fourth month. Asahel was succeeded by his son Zebadiah.


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<pb/>Shammah the Izrahite was commander of the fifth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the fifth month.


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<pb/>Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa was commander of the sixth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the sixth month.


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<pb/>Helez, a descendant of Ephraim from Pelon, was commander of the seventh division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the seventh month.


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<pb/>Sibbecai, a descendant of Zerah from Hushah, was commander of the eighth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the eighth month.


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<pb/>Abiezer from Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin was commander of the ninth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the ninth month.


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<pb/>Maharai, a descendant of Zerah from Netophah, was commander of the tenth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the tenth month.


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<pb/>Benaiah from Pirathon in Ephraim was commander of the eleventh division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the eleventh month.


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<pb/>Heled, a descendant of Othniel from Netophah, was commander of the twelfth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the twelfth month.


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<pb/>Leaders of the Tribes The following were the tribes of Israel and their leaders: Tribe Leader Reuben Eliezer son of Zicri Simeon Shephatiah son of Maacah


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<pb/>When David took his census, he did not count those who were younger than twenty years of age, because the Lord had promised to make the Israelites as numerous as the stars in heaven.


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Joab son of Zeruiah began the census but never finished it because the anger of God fell on Israel. The total number was never recorded in King David’s official records.


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Officials of David’s Kingdom Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the palace treasuries. Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the regional treasuries throughout the towns, villages, and fortresses of Israel.


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<pb/>Shimei from Ramah was in charge of the king’s vineyards. Zabdi from Shepham was responsible for the grapes and the supplies of wine.


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<pb/>Baal-hanan from Geder was in charge of the king’s olive groves and sycamore-fig trees in the foothills of Judah. Joash was responsible for the supplies of olive oil.


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<pb/>Shitrai from Sharon was in charge of the cattle on the Sharon Plain. Shaphat son of Adlai was responsible for the cattle in the valleys.


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<pb/>Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels. Jehdeiah from Meronoth was in charge of the donkeys.


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<pb/>Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the king’s flocks of sheep and goats. All these officials were overseers of King David’s property.


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<pb/>Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a wise counselor to the king, a man of great insight, and a scribe. Jehiel the Hacmonite was responsible for teaching the king’s sons.


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<pb/>Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king’s army.


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<pb/>David’s Instructions to Solomon David summoned all the officials of Israel to Jerusalem—the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the army divisions, the other generals and captains, the overseers of the royal property and livestock, the palace officials, the mighty men, and all the other brave warriors in the kingdom.


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<pb/>David rose to his feet and said: “My brothers and my people! It was my desire to build a Temple where the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, God’s footstool, could rest permanently. I made the necessary preparations for building it,


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but God said to me, ‘You must not build a Temple to honor my name, for you are a warrior and have shed much blood.’


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“Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, has chosen me from among all my father’s family to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen the tribe of Judah to rule, and from among the families of Judah he chose my father’s family. And from among my father’s sons the Lord was pleased to make me king over all Israel.


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And from among my sons—for the Lord has given me many—he chose Solomon to succeed me on the throne of Israel and to rule over the Lord’s kingdom.


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He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will build my Temple and its courtyards, for I have chosen him as my son, and I will be his father.


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And if he continues to obey my commands and regulations as he does now, I will make his kingdom last forever.’


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“So now, with God as our witness, and in the sight of all Israel—the Lord’s assembly—I give you this charge. Be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land and leave it to your children as a permanent inheritance.


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<pb/>“And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.


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So take this seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work.”</t>


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<pb/>Then David gave Solomon the plans for the Temple and its surroundings, including the entry room, the storerooms, the upstairs rooms, the inner rooms, and the inner sanctuary—which was the place of atonement.


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David also gave Solomon all the plans he had in mind for the courtyards of the Lord’s Temple, the outside rooms, the treasuries, and the rooms for the gifts dedicated to the Lord.


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<pb/>The king also gave Solomon the instructions concerning the work of the various divisions of priests and Levites in the Temple of the Lord. And he gave specifications for the items in the Temple that were to be used for worship.


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<pb/>David gave instructions regarding how much gold and silver should be used to make the items needed for service.


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He told Solomon the amount of gold needed for the gold lampstands and lamps, and the amount of silver for the silver lampstands and lamps, depending on how each would be used.


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He designated the amount of gold for the table on which the Bread of the Presence would be placed and the amount of silver for other tables.


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David also designated the amount of gold for the solid gold meat hooks used to handle the sacrificial meat and for the basins, pitchers, and dishes, as well as the amount of silver for every dish.


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He designated the amount of refined gold for the altar of incense. Finally, he gave him a plan for the Lord’s <t>“chariot”—the gold cherubim whose wings were stretched out over the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant.


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<pb/>“Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the Lord.”


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<pb/>Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.


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The various divisions of priests and Levites will serve in the Temple of God. Others with skills of every kind will volunteer, and the officials and the entire nation are at your command.”</t>


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<pb/>Gifts for Building the Temple Then King David turned to the entire assembly and said, “My son Solomon, whom God has clearly chosen as the next king of Israel, is still young and inexperienced. The work ahead of him is enormous, for the Temple he will build is not for mere mortals—it is for the Lord God himself!


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Using every resource at my command, I have gathered as much as I could for building the Temple of my God. Now there is enough gold, silver, bronze, iron, and wood, as well as great quantities of onyx, other precious stones, costly jewels, and all kinds of fine stone and marble.


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“And now, because of my devotion to the Temple of my God, I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction. This is in addition to the building materials I have already collected for his holy Temple.


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I am donating more than 112 tons of gold from Ophir and 262 tons of refined silver to be used for overlaying the walls of the buildings


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and for the other gold and silver work to be done by the craftsmen. Now then, who will follow my example and give offerings to the Lord today?”</t>


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<pb/>Then the family leaders, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the generals and captains of the army, and the king’s administrative officers all gave willingly.


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For the construction of the Temple of God, they gave about 188 tons of gold, 10,000 gold coins, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 3,750 tons of iron.


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They also contributed numerous precious stones, which were deposited in the treasury of the house of the Lord under the care of Jehiel, a descendant of Gershon.


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The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, and King David was filled with joy.


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David’s Prayer of Praise Then David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly: <t>“O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever!


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Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.


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Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.


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<pb/>But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!


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We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.


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“O Lord our God, even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your holy name comes from you! It all belongs to you!


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I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously.


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“O Lord, the God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make your people always want to obey you. See to it that their love for you never changes.


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Give my son Solomon the wholehearted desire to obey all your commands, laws, and decrees, and to do everything necessary to build this Temple, for which I have made these preparations.”</t>


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<pb/>Then David said to the whole assembly, “Give praise to the Lord your God!” And the entire assembly praised the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they bowed low and knelt before the Lord and the king.


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Solomon Named as King The next day they brought 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 male lambs as burnt offerings to the Lord. They also brought liquid offerings and many other sacrifices on behalf of all Israel.


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They feasted and drank in the Lord’s presence with great joy that day. And again they crowned David’s son Solomon as their new king. They anointed him before the Lord as their leader, and they anointed Zadok as priest.


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So Solomon took the throne of the Lord in place of his father, David, and he succeeded in everything, and all Israel obeyed him.


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And the Lord exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and he gave Solomon greater royal splendor than any king in Israel before him.


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He died at a ripe old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor. Then his son Solomon ruled in his place.


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All the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in The Record of Samuel the Seer, The Record of Nathan the Prophet, and The Record of Gad the Seer.


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These accounts include the mighty deeds of his reign and everything that happened to him and to Israel and to all the surrounding kingdoms.


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<pb/>Solomon Asks for Wisdom Solomon son of David took firm control of his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him very powerful.


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<pb/>Solomon called together all the leaders of Israel—the generals and captains of the army, the judges, and all the political and clan leaders.


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Then he led the entire assembly to the place of worship in Gibeon, for God’s Tabernacle was located there. (This was the Tabernacle that Moses, the Lord’s servant, had made in the wilderness.)


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David had already moved the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the tent he had prepared for it in Jerusalem.


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But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri and grandson of Hur was there at Gibeon in front of the Tabernacle of the Lord. So Solomon and the people gathered in front of it to consult the Lord.


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There in front of the Tabernacle, Solomon went up to the bronze altar in the Lord’s presence and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it.


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<pb/>That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”


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Solomon replied to God, <t>“You showed great and faithful love to David, my father, and now you have made me king in his place.


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O Lord God, please continue to keep your promise to David my father, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth!


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Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?”</t>


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<pb/>God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people—


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I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!”</t>


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<pb/>Then Solomon returned to Jerusalem from the Tabernacle at the place of worship in Gibeon, and he reigned over Israel.


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Solomon built up a huge force of chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He stationed some of them in the chariot cities and some near him in Jerusalem.


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The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stone. And valuable cedar timber was as common as the sycamore-fig trees that grow in the foothills of Judah.


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<pb/>Preparations for Building the Temple Solomon decided to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord, and also a royal palace for himself.


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He enlisted a force of 70,000 laborers, 80,000 men to quarry stone in the hill country, and 3,600 foremen.


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<pb/>Solomon also sent this message to King Hiram at Tyre: “Send me cedar logs as you did for my father, David, when he was building his palace.


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I am about to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord my God. It will be a place set apart to burn fragrant incense before him, to display the special sacrificial bread, and to sacrifice burnt offerings each morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, at new moon celebrations, and at the other appointed festivals of the Lord our God. He has commanded Israel to do these things forever.


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But who can really build him a worthy home? Not even the highest heavens can contain him! So who am I to consider building a Temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices to him?


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<pb/>“So send me a master craftsman who can work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as with purple, scarlet, and blue cloth. He must be a skilled engraver who can work with the craftsmen of Judah and Jerusalem who were selected by my father, David.


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“Also send me cedar, cypress, and red sandalwood logs from Lebanon, for I know that your men are without equal at cutting timber in Lebanon. I will send my men to help them.


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An immense amount of timber will be needed, for the Temple I am going to build will be very large and magnificent.


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In payment for your woodcutters, I will send 100,000 bushels of crushed wheat, 100,000 bushels of barley, 110,000 gallons of wine, and 110,000 gallons of olive oil.”</t>


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<pb/>King Hiram sent this letter of reply to Solomon: “It is because the Lord loves his people that he has made you their king!


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Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He has given King David a wise son, gifted with skill and understanding, who will build a Temple for the Lord and a royal palace for himself.


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His mother is from the tribe of Dan in Israel, and his father is from Tyre. He is skillful at making things from gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and he also works with stone and wood. He can work with purple, blue, and scarlet cloth and fine linen. He is also an engraver and can follow any design given to him. He will work with your craftsmen and those appointed by my lord David, your father.


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We will cut whatever timber you need from the Lebanon mountains and will float the logs in rafts down the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Joppa. From there you can transport the logs up to Jerusalem.”</t>


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<pb/>Solomon took a census of all foreigners in the land of Israel, like the census his father had taken, and he counted 153,600.


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He assigned 70,000 of them as common laborers, 80,000 as quarry workers in the hill country, and 3,600 as foremen.


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<pb/>Solomon Builds the Temple So Solomon began to build the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David, his father. The Temple was built on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the site that David had selected.


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<pb/>These are the dimensions Solomon used for the foundation of the Temple of God (using the old standard of measurement). It was 90 feet long and 30 feet wide.


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The entry room at the front of the Temple was 30 feet wide, running across the entire width of the Temple, and 30 feet high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold.


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He paneled the main room of the Temple with cypress wood, overlaid it with fine gold, and decorated it with carvings of palm trees and chains.


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He overlaid the beams, thresholds, walls, and doors throughout the Temple with gold, and he carved figures of cherubim on the walls.


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<pb/>He made the Most Holy Place 30 feet wide, corresponding to the width of the Temple, and 30 feet deep. He overlaid its interior with 23 tons of fine gold.


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The gold nails that were used weighed 20 ounces each. He also overlaid the walls of the upper rooms with gold.


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He made two figures shaped like cherubim, overlaid them with gold, and placed them in the Most Holy Place.


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The total wingspan of the two cherubim standing side by side was 30 feet. One wing of the first figure was 7 1⁄2 feet long, and it touched the Temple wall. The other wing, also 7 1⁄2 feet long, touched one of the wings of the second figure.


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In the same way, the second figure had one wing 7 1⁄2 feet long that touched the opposite wall. The other wing, also 7 1⁄2 feet long, touched the wing of the first figure.


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So the wingspan of the two cherubim side by side was 30 feet. They stood on their feet and faced out toward the main room of the Temple.


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Across the entrance of the Most Holy Place he hung a curtain made of fine linen, decorated with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and embroidered with figures of cherubim.


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<pb/>For the front of the Temple, he made two pillars that were 27 feet tall, each topped by a capital extending upward another 7 1⁄2 feet.


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He made a network of interwoven chains and used them to decorate the tops of the pillars. He also made 100 decorative pomegranates and attached them to the chains.


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Then he set up the two pillars at the entrance of the Temple, one to the south of the entrance and the other to the north. He named the one on the south Jakin, and the one on the north Boaz.


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Furnishings for the Temple Solomon also made a bronze altar 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high.


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Then he cast a great round basin, 15 feet across from rim to rim, called the Sea. It was 7 1⁄2 feet deep and about 45 feet in circumference.


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It was encircled just below its rim by two rows of figures that resembled oxen. There were about six oxen per foot all the way around, and they were cast as part of the basin.


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The walls of the Sea were about three inches thick, and its rim flared out like a cup and resembled a water lily blossom. It could hold about 16,500 gallons of water.


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He also made ten smaller basins for washing the utensils for the burnt offerings. He set five on the south side and five on the north. But the priests washed themselves in the Sea.


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<pb/>He then cast ten gold lampstands according to the specifications that had been given, and he put them in the Temple. Five were placed against the south wall, and five were placed against the north wall.


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He also built ten tables and placed them in the Temple, five along the south wall and five along the north wall. Then he molded 100 gold basins.


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He then built a courtyard for the priests, and also the large outer courtyard. He made doors for the courtyard entrances and overlaid them with bronze.


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<pb/>Huram-abi also made the necessary washbasins, shovels, and bowls. So at last Huram-abi completed everything King Solomon had assigned him to make for the Temple of God:


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the ash buckets, the shovels, the meat hooks, and all the related articles. Huram-abi made all these things of burnished bronze for the Temple of the Lord, just as King Solomon had directed.


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<pb/>Solomon also made all the furnishings for the Temple of God: the gold altar; the tables for the Bread of the Presence;


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the lampstands and their lamps of solid gold, to burn in front of the Most Holy Place as prescribed;


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the lamp snuffers, bowls, ladles, and incense burners—all of solid gold; the doors for the entrances to the Most Holy Place and the main room of the Temple, overlaid with gold.


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So Solomon finished all his work on the Temple of the Lord. Then he brought all the gifts his father, David, had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and the various articles—and he stored them in the treasuries of the Temple of God.


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The Ark Brought to the Temple Solomon then summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel and all the heads of tribes—the leaders of the ancestral families of Israel. They were to bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant to the Temple from its location in the City of David, also known as Zion.


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So all the men of Israel assembled before the king at the annual Festival of Shelters, which is held in early autumn.


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The priests and Levites brought up the Ark along with the special tent and all the sacred items that had been in it.


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Nothing was in the Ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Mount Sinai, where the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel when they left Egypt.


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<pb/>Then the priests left the Holy Place. All the priests who were present had purified themselves, whether or not they were on duty that day.


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And the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and all their sons and brothers—were dressed in fine linen robes and stood at the east side of the altar playing cymbals, lyres, and harps. They were joined by 120 priests who were playing trumpets.


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The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words: <t>“He is good! His faithful love endures forever!”</t> At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord.


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The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God.


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Solomon Praises the Lord Then Solomon prayed, <t>“O Lord, you have said that you would live in a thick cloud of darkness.


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‘From the day I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I have never chosen a city among any of the tribes of Israel as the place where a Temple should be built to honor my name. Nor have I chosen a king to lead my people Israel.


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But now I have chosen Jerusalem as the place for my name to be honored, and I have chosen David to be king over my people Israel.’”</t>


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There I have placed the Ark, which contains the covenant that the Lord made with the people of Israel.”</t>


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<pb/>Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire community of Israel, and he lifted his hands in prayer.


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Now Solomon had made a bronze platform 7 1⁄2 feet long, 7 1⁄2 feet wide, and 4 1⁄2 feet high and had placed it at the center of the Temple’s outer courtyard. He stood on the platform, and then he knelt in front of the entire community of Israel and lifted his hands toward heaven.


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He prayed, <t>“O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven and earth. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion.


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“And now, O Lord, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise you made to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, ‘If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow my Law as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’


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<pb/>“But will God really live on earth among people? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!


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Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you.


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May you watch over this Temple day and night, this place where you have said you would put your name. May you always hear the prayers I make toward this place.


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<pb/>“If someone wrongs another person and is required to take an oath of innocence in front of your altar at this Temple,


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then hear from heaven and judge between your servants—the accuser and the accused. Pay back the guilty as they deserve. Acquit the innocent because of their innocence.


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<pb/>“If your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you, and if they turn back and acknowledge your name and pray to you here in this Temple,


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then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and return them to this land you gave to them and to their ancestors.


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and if your people Israel pray about their troubles or sorrow, raising their hands toward this Temple,


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Then they will fear you and walk in your ways as long as they live in the land you gave to our ancestors.


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<pb/>“In the future, foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will hear of you. They will come from distant lands when they hear of your great name and your strong hand and your powerful arm. And when they pray toward this Temple,


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<pb/>“If your people go out where you send them to fight their enemies, and if they pray to you by turning toward this city you have chosen and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name,


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<pb/>“If they sin against you—and who has never sinned?—you might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to a foreign land far away or near.


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If they turn to you with their whole heart and soul in the land of their captivity and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors—toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name—


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then hear their prayers and their petitions from heaven where you live, and uphold their cause. Forgive your people who have sinned against you.


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<pb/>“O my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to all the prayers made to you in this place.


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“And now arise, O Lord God, and enter your resting place, along with the Ark, the symbol of your power. May your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation; may your loyal servants rejoice in your goodness.


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O Lord God, do not reject the king you have anointed. Remember your unfailing love for your servant David.”</t>


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<pb/>The Dedication of the Temple When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple.


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The priests could not enter the Temple of the Lord because the glorious presence of the Lord filled it.


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When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the Lord filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying, <t>“He is good! His faithful love endures forever!”</t>


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King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. And so the king and all the people dedicated the Temple of God.


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The priests took their assigned positions, and so did the Levites who were singing, <t>“His faithful love endures forever!”</t> They accompanied the singing with music from the instruments King David had made for praising the Lord. Across from the Levites, the priests blew the trumpets, while all Israel stood.


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Solomon then consecrated the central area of the courtyard in front of the Lord’s Temple. He offered burnt offerings and the fat of peace offerings there, because the bronze altar he had built could not hold all the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and sacrificial fat.


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For the next seven days Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival of Shelters. A large congregation had gathered from as far away as Lebo-hamath in the north and the Brook of Egypt in the south.


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On the eighth day they had a closing ceremony, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the Festival of Shelters for seven days.


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Then at the end of the celebration, Solomon sent the people home. They were all joyful and glad because the Lord had been so good to David and to Solomon and to his people Israel.


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The Lord’s Response to Solomon So Solomon finished the Temple of the Lord, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do in the construction of the Temple and the palace.


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Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, <t>“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices.


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At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you.


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Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.


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For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.


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“As for you, if you faithfully follow me as David your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations,


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then I will establish the throne of your dynasty. For I made this covenant with your father, David, when I said, ‘One of your descendants will always rule over Israel.’


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<pb/>“But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the decrees and commands I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods,


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then I will uproot the people from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make it an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations.


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And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled. They will ask, ‘Why did the Lord do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’


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“And the answer will be, ‘Because his people abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead and bowed down to them. That is why he has brought all these disasters on them.’”</t>


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<pb/>Solomon’s Many Achievements It took Solomon twenty years to build the Lord’s Temple and his own royal palace. At the end of that time,


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Solomon turned his attention to rebuilding the towns that King Hiram had given him, and he settled Israelites in them.


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He fortified the towns of Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon, rebuilding their walls and installing barred gates.


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He also rebuilt Baalath and other supply centers and constructed towns where his chariots and horses could be stationed. He built everything he desired in Jerusalem and Lebanon and throughout his entire realm.


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<pb/>There were still some people living in the land who were not Israelites, including the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.


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These were descendants of the nations whom the people of Israel had not destroyed. So Solomon conscripted them for his labor force, and they serve as forced laborers to this day.


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But Solomon did not conscript any of the Israelites for his labor force. Instead, he assigned them to serve as fighting men, officers in his army, commanders of his chariots, and charioteers.


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<pb/>Solomon moved his wife, Pharaoh’s daughter, from the City of David to the new palace he had built for her. He said, “My wife must not live in King David’s palace, for the Ark of the Lord has been there, and it is holy ground.”


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<pb/>Then Solomon presented burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar he had built for him in front of the entry room of the Temple.


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He offered the sacrifices for the Sabbaths, the new moon festivals, and the three annual festivals—the Passover celebration, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of Shelters—as Moses had commanded.


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In assigning the priests to their duties, Solomon followed the regulations of his father, David. He also assigned the Levites to lead the people in praise and to assist the priests in their daily duties. And he assigned the gatekeepers to their gates by their divisions, following the commands of David, the man of God.


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Solomon did not deviate in any way from David’s commands concerning the priests and Levites and the treasuries.


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<pb/>So Solomon made sure that all the work related to building the Temple of the Lord was carried out, from the day its foundation was laid to the day of its completion.


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<pb/>Later Solomon went to Ezion-geber and Elath, ports along the shore of the Red Sea in the land of Edom.


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Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own officers and manned by experienced crews of sailors. These ships sailed to Ophir with Solomon’s men and brought back to Solomon almost seventeen tons of gold.


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<pb/>Visit of the Queen of Sheba When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. She arrived with a large group of attendants and a great caravan of camels loaded with spices, large quantities of gold, and precious jewels. When she met with Solomon, she talked with him about everything she had on her mind.


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she was overwhelmed. She was also amazed at the food on his tables, the organization of his officials and their splendid clothing, the cup-bearers and their robes, and the burnt offerings Solomon made at the Temple of the Lord.


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I didn’t believe what was said until I arrived here and saw it with my own eyes. In fact, I had not heard the half of your great wisdom! It is far beyond what I was told.


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Praise the Lord your God, who delights in you and has placed you on the throne as king to rule for him. Because God loves Israel and desires this kingdom to last forever, he has made you king over them so you can rule with justice and righteousness.”</t>


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Then she gave the king a gift of 9,000 pounds of gold, great quantities of spices, and precious jewels. Never before had there been spices as fine as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.


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(In addition, the crews of Hiram and Solomon brought gold from Ophir, and they also brought red sandalwood and precious jewels.


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The king used the sandalwood to make steps for the Temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and to construct lyres and harps for the musicians. Never before had such beautiful things been seen in Judah.)


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King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba whatever she asked for—gifts of greater value than the gifts she had given him. Then she and all her attendants returned to their own land.


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This did not include the additional revenue he received from merchants and traders. All the kings of Arabia and the governors of the provinces also brought gold and silver to Solomon.


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He also made 300 smaller shields of hammered gold, each weighing more than 7 1⁄2 pounds. The king placed these shields in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.


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The throne had six steps, with a footstool of gold. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, and the figure of a lion stood on each side of the throne.


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The king had a fleet of trading ships of Tarshish manned by the sailors sent by Hiram. Once every three years the ships returned, loaded with gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.


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<pb/>Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his horses and chariots, and he had 12,000 horses. He stationed some of them in the chariot cities, and some near him in Jerusalem.


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He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River in the north to the land of the Philistines and the border of Egypt in the south.


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Summary of Solomon’s Reign The rest of the events of Solomon’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Record of Nathan the Prophet, and The Prophecy of Ahijah from Shiloh, and also in The Visions of Iddo the Seer, concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat.


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The older counselors replied, <t>“If you are good to these people and do your best to please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.”</t>


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So the king paid no attention to the people. This turn of events was the will of God, for it fulfilled the Lord’s message to Jeroboam son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh.


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<pb/>When all Israel realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded, “Down with the dynasty of David! We have no interest in the son of Jesse. Back to your homes, O Israel! Look out for your own house, O David!” So all the people of Israel returned home.


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Shemaiah’s Prophecy When Rehoboam arrived at Jerusalem, he mobilized the men of Judah and Benjamin—180,000 select troops—to fight against Israel and to restore the kingdom to himself.


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‘This is what the Lord says: Do not fight against your relatives. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing!’”</t> So they obeyed the message of the Lord and did not fight against Jeroboam.


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Rehoboam Fortifies Judah Rehoboam remained in Jerusalem and fortified various towns for the defense of Judah.


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Rehoboam strengthened their defenses and stationed commanders in them, and he stored supplies of food, olive oil, and wine.


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He also put shields and spears in these towns as a further safety measure. So only Judah and Benjamin remained under his control.


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<pb/>But all the priests and Levites living among the northern tribes of Israel sided with Rehoboam.


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The Levites even abandoned their pasturelands and property and moved to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons would not allow them to serve the Lord as priests.


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Jeroboam appointed his own priests to serve at the pagan shrines, where they worshiped the goat and calf idols he had made.


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From all the tribes of Israel, those who sincerely wanted to worship the Lord, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem, where they could offer sacrifices to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.


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This strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they supported Rehoboam son of Solomon, for during those years they faithfully followed in the footsteps of David and Solomon.


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<pb/>Rehoboam’s Family Rehoboam married his cousin Mahalath, the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Eliab son of Jesse.


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Later Rehoboam married another cousin, Maacah, the granddaughter of Absalom. Maacah gave birth to Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.


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Rehoboam loved Maacah more than any of his other wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and they gave birth to twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.


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<pb/>Rehoboam appointed Maacah’s son Abijah as leader among the princes, making it clear that he would be the next king.


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Rehoboam also wisely gave responsibilities to his other sons and stationed some of them in the fortified towns throughout the land of Judah and Benjamin. He provided them with generous provisions, and he found many wives for them.


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Egypt Invades Judah But when Rehoboam was firmly established and strong, he abandoned the Law of the Lord, and all Israel followed him in this sin.


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Because they were unfaithful to the Lord, King Shishak of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam’s reign.


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He came with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horses, and a countless army of foot soldiers, including Libyans, Sukkites, and Ethiopians.


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<pb/>The prophet Shemaiah then met with Rehoboam and Judah’s leaders, who had all fled to Jerusalem because of Shishak. Shemaiah told them, “This is what the Lord says: You have abandoned me, so I am abandoning you to Shishak.”


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Then the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, <t>“The Lord is right in doing this to us!”</t>


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When the Lord saw their change of heart, he gave this message to Shemaiah: <t>“Since the people have humbled themselves, I will not completely destroy them and will soon give them some relief. I will not use Shishak to pour out my anger on Jerusalem.


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But they will become his subjects, so they will know the difference between serving me and serving earthly rulers.”</t>


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<pb/>So King Shishak of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem. He ransacked the treasuries of the Lord’s Temple and the royal palace; he stole everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made.


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<pb/>Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger was turned away, and he did not destroy him completely. There were still some good things in the land of Judah.


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Summary of Rehoboam’s Reign King Rehoboam firmly established himself in Jerusalem and continued to rule. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen from among all the tribes of Israel as the place to honor his name. Rehoboam’s mother was Naamah, a woman from Ammon.


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<pb/>The rest of the events of Rehoboam’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Record of Shemaiah the Prophet and The Record of Iddo the Seer, which are part of the genealogical record. Rehoboam and Jeroboam were continually at war with each other.


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<pb/>Abijah’s War with Jeroboam Abijah began to rule over Judah in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam’s reign in Israel.


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He reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah. Then war broke out between Abijah and Jeroboam.


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Judah, led by King Abijah, fielded 400,000 select warriors, while Jeroboam mustered 800,000 select troops from Israel.


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<pb/>When the army of Judah arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim and shouted to Jeroboam and all Israel: “Listen to me!


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Don’t you realize that the Lord, the God of Israel, made a lasting covenant with David, giving him and his descendants the throne of Israel forever?


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Then a whole gang of scoundrels joined him, defying Solomon’s son Rehoboam when he was young and inexperienced and could not stand up to them.


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“Do you really think you can stand against the kingdom of the Lord that is led by the descendants of David? You may have a vast army, and you have those gold calves that Jeroboam made as your gods.


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But you have chased away the priests of the Lord (the descendants of Aaron) and the Levites, and you have appointed your own priests, just like the pagan nations. You let anyone become a priest these days! Whoever comes to be dedicated with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of these so-called gods of yours!


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“But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not abandoned him. Only the descendants of Aaron serve the Lord as priests, and the Levites alone may help them in their work.


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They present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the Lord every morning and evening. They place the Bread of the Presence on the holy table, and they light the gold lampstand every evening. We are following the instructions of the Lord our God, but you have abandoned him.


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So you see, God is with us. He is our leader. His priests blow their trumpets and lead us into battle against you. O people of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed!”</t>


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<pb/>Meanwhile, Jeroboam had secretly sent part of his army around behind the men of Judah to ambush them.


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When Judah realized that they were being attacked from the front and the rear, they cried out to the Lord for help. Then the priests blew the trumpets,


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and the men of Judah began to shout. At the sound of their battle cry, God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel and routed them before Abijah and the army of Judah.


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Abijah and his army inflicted heavy losses on them; 500,000 of Israel’s select troops were killed that day.


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So Judah defeated Israel on that occasion because they trusted in the Lord, the God of their ancestors.


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<pb/>Abijah and his army pursued Jeroboam’s troops and captured some of his towns, including Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, along with their surrounding villages.


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So Jeroboam of Israel never regained his power during Abijah’s lifetime, and finally the Lord struck him down and he died.


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Meanwhile, Abijah of Judah grew more and more powerful. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.


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<pb/>The rest of the events of Abijah’s reign, including his words and deeds, are recorded in The Commentary of Iddo the Prophet.


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Early Years of Asa’s Reign When Abijah died, he was buried in the City of David. Then his son Asa became the next king. There was peace in the land for ten years.


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He removed the foreign altars and the pagan shrines. He smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles.


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He commanded the people of Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his law and his commands.


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Asa also removed the pagan shrines, as well as the incense altars from every one of Judah’s towns. So Asa’s kingdom enjoyed a period of peace.


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<pb/>During those peaceful years, he was able to build up the fortified towns throughout Judah. No one tried to make war against him at this time, for the Lord was giving him rest from his enemies.


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Asa told the people of Judah, <t>“Let us build towns and fortify them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land is still ours because we sought the Lord our God, and he has given us peace on every side.”</t> So they went ahead with these projects and brought them to completion.


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<pb/>King Asa had an army of 300,000 warriors from the tribe of Judah, armed with large shields and spears. He also had an army of 280,000 warriors from the tribe of Benjamin, armed with small shields and bows. Both armies were composed of well-trained fighting men.


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Once an Ethiopian named Zerah attacked Judah with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. They advanced to the town of Mareshah,


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<pb/>Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God, “O Lord, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O Lord, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!”


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So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians in the presence of Asa and the army of Judah, and the enemy fled.


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Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar, and so many Ethiopians fell that they were unable to rally. They were destroyed by the Lord and his army, and the army of Judah carried off a vast amount of plunder.


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While they were at Gerar, they attacked all the towns in that area, and terror from the Lord came upon the people there. As a result, a vast amount of plunder was taken from these towns, too.


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They also attacked the camps of herdsmen and captured many sheep, goats, and camels before finally returning to Jerusalem.


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and he went out to meet King Asa as he was returning from the battle. <t>“Listen to me, Asa!”</t> he shouted. <t>“Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.


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For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach them, and without the Law to instruct them.


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But whenever they were in trouble and turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him out, they found him.


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Nation fought against nation, and city against city, for God was troubling them with every kind of problem.


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<pb/>When Asa heard this message from Azariah the prophet, he took courage and removed all the detestable idols from the land of Judah and Benjamin and in the towns he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. And he repaired the altar of the Lord, which stood in front of the entry room of the Lord’s Temple.


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<pb/>Then Asa called together all the people of Judah and Benjamin, along with the people of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them. For many from Israel had moved to Judah during Asa’s reign when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.


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On that day they sacrificed to the Lord 700 cattle and 7,000 sheep and goats from the plunder they had taken in the battle.


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Then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul.


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They agreed that anyone who refused to seek the Lord, the God of Israel, would be put to death—whether young or old, man or woman.


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All in Judah were happy about this covenant, for they had entered into it with all their heart. They earnestly sought after God, and they found him. And the Lord gave them rest from their enemies on every side.


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<pb/>King Asa even deposed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made an obscene Asherah pole. He cut down her obscene pole, broke it up, and burned it in the Kidron Valley.


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Although the pagan shrines were not removed from Israel, Asa’s heart remained completely faithful throughout his life.


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He brought into the Temple of God the silver and gold and the various items that he and his father had dedicated.


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Final Years of Asa’s Reign In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from entering or leaving King Asa’s territory in Judah.


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Asa responded by removing the silver and gold from the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord and the royal palace. He sent it to King Ben-hadad of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus, along with this message:


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“Let there be a treaty between you and me like the one between your father and my father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone.”</t>


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Ben-hadad agreed to King Asa’s request and sent the commanders of his army to attack the towns of Israel. They conquered the towns of Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all the store cities in Naphtali.


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As soon as Baasha of Israel heard what was happening, he abandoned his project of fortifying Ramah and stopped all work on it.


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Then King Asa called out all the men of Judah to carry away the building stones and timbers that Baasha had been using to fortify Ramah. Asa used these materials to fortify the towns of Geba and Mizpah.


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<pb/>At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, “Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram.


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Don’t you remember what happened to the Ethiopians and Libyans and their vast army, with all of their chariots and charioteers? At that time you relied on the Lord, and he handed them over to you.


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The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.”</t>


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Asa became so angry with Hanani for saying this that he threw him into prison and put him in stocks. At that time Asa also began to oppress some of his people.


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Summary of Asa’s Reign The rest of the events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.


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In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a serious foot disease. Yet even with the severity of his disease, he did not seek the Lord’s help but turned only to his physicians.


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He was buried in the tomb he had carved out for himself in the City of David. He was laid on a bed perfumed with sweet spices and fragrant ointments, and the people built a huge funeral fire in his honor.


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<pb/>Jehoshaphat Rules in Judah Then Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son, became the next king. He strengthened Judah to stand against any attack from Israel.


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He stationed troops in all the fortified towns of Judah, and he assigned additional garrisons to the land of Judah and to the towns of Ephraim that his father, Asa, had captured.


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<pb/>The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father’s early years and did not worship the images of Baal.


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He sought his father’s God and obeyed his commands instead of following the evil practices of the kingdom of Israel.


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So the Lord established Jehoshaphat’s control over the kingdom of Judah. All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so he became very wealthy and highly esteemed.


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He was deeply committed to the ways of the Lord. He removed the pagan shrines and Asherah poles from Judah.


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<pb/>In the third year of his reign Jehoshaphat sent his officials to teach in all the towns of Judah. These officials included Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.


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He sent Levites along with them, including Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah. He also sent out the priests Elishama and Jehoram.


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They took copies of the Book of the Law of the Lord and traveled around through all the towns of Judah, teaching the people.


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<pb/>Then the fear of the Lord fell over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat.


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Some of the Philistines brought him gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.


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<pb/>So Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful and built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah.


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His army was enrolled according to ancestral clans. From Judah there were 300,000 troops organized in units of 1,000, under the command of Adnah.


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Next was Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered for the Lord’s service, with 200,000 troops under his command.


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<pb/>From Benjamin there were 200,000 troops equipped with bows and shields. They were under the command of Eliada, a veteran soldier.


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<pb/>These were the troops stationed in Jerusalem to serve the king, besides those Jehoshaphat stationed in the fortified towns throughout Judah.


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<pb/>Jehoshaphat and Ahab Jehoshaphat enjoyed great riches and high esteem, and he made an alliance with Ahab of Israel by having his son marry Ahab’s daughter.


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A few years later he went to Samaria to visit Ahab, who prepared a great banquet for him and his officials. They butchered great numbers of sheep, goats, and cattle for the feast. Then Ahab enticed Jehoshaphat to join forces with him to recover Ramoth-gilead.


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“Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?”</t> King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Jehoshaphat replied, <t>“Why, of course! You and I are as one, and my troops are your troops. We will certainly join you in battle.”</t>


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So the king of Israel summoned the prophets, 400 of them, and asked them, <t>“Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?”</t> They all replied, <t>“Yes, go right ahead! God will give the king victory.”</t>


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<pb/>When Micaiah arrived before the king, Ahab asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?” Micaiah replied sarcastically, “Yes, go up and be victorious, for you will have victory over them!”


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And the Lord said, ‘Who can entice King Ahab of Israel to go into battle against Ramoth-gilead so he can be killed?’ <t>“There were many suggestions,


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and finally a spirit approached the Lord and said, ‘I can do it!’ <t>“‘How will you do this?’ the Lord asked.


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“And the spirit replied, ‘I will go out and inspire all of Ahab’s prophets to speak lies.’ <t>“‘You will succeed,’ said the Lord. ‘Go ahead and do it.’


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“So you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of your prophets. For the Lord has pronounced your doom.”</t>


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Meanwhile, the king of Aram had issued these orders to his chariot commanders: <t>“Attack only the king of Israel! Don’t bother with anyone else.”</t>


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So when the Aramean chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat in his royal robes, they went after him. <t>“There is the king of Israel!”</t> they shouted. But Jehoshaphat called out, and the Lord saved him. God helped him by turning the attackers away from him.


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An Aramean soldier, however, randomly shot an arrow at the Israelite troops and hit the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. <t>“Turn the horses and get me out of here!”</t> Ahab groaned to the driver of the chariot. <t>“I’m badly wounded!”</t>


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The battle raged all that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans. In the evening, just as the sun was setting, he died.


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Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him. <t>“Why should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?”</t> he asked the king. <t>“Because of what you have done, the Lord is very angry with you.


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Even so, there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles throughout the land, and you have committed yourself to seeking God.”</t>


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Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, but he went out among the people, traveling from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, encouraging the people to return to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.


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and he said to them, <t>“Always think carefully before pronouncing judgment. Remember that you do not judge to please people but to please the Lord. He will be with you when you render the verdict in each case.


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Fear the Lord and judge with integrity, for the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.”</t>


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<pb/>In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests and clan leaders in Israel to serve as judges for cases involving the Lord’s regulations and for civil disputes.


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These were his instructions to them: <t>“You must always act in the fear of the Lord, with faithfulness and an undivided heart.


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Whenever a case comes to you from fellow citizens in an outlying town, whether a murder case or some other violation of God’s laws, commands, decrees, or regulations, you must warn them not to sin against the Lord, so that he will not be angry with you and them. Do this and you will not be guilty.


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“Amariah the high priest will have final say in all cases involving the Lord. Zebadiah son of Ishmael, a leader from the tribe of Judah, will have final say in all civil cases. The Levites will assist you in making sure that justice is served. Take courage as you fulfill your duties, and may the Lord be with those who do what is right.”</t>


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<pb/>War with Surrounding Nations After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat.


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Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, <t>“A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar.”</t> (This was another name for En-gedi.)


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Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting.


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<pb/>Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the Lord.


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He prayed, <t>“O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!


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O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham?


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They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’


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“And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them.


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Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance.


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O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”</t>


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the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph.


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He said, <t>“Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.


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Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel.


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But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”</t>


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<pb/>Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the Lord.


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Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.


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<pb/>Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”


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After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: <t>“Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!”</t>


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<pb/>At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.


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The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other.


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So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.


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King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing, and other valuables—more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all!


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<pb/>On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.


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Then all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the Lord had given them victory over their enemies.


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They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, lyres, and trumpets, and they proceeded to the Temple of the Lord.


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When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the Lord himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them.


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Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign So Jehoshaphat ruled over the land of Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.


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Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the ways of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight.


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During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors.


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<pb/>The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Record of Jehu Son of Hanani, which is included in The Book of the Kings of Israel.


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<pb/>Some time later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who was very wicked.


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Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, <t>“Because you have allied yourself with King Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy your work.”</t> So the ships met with disaster and never put out to sea.


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Jehoram Rules in Judah When Jehoshaphat died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. Then his son Jehoram became the next king.


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Jehoram’s brothers—the other sons of Jehoshaphat—were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Judah.


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Their father had given each of them valuable gifts of silver, gold, and costly items, and also some of Judah’s fortified towns. However, he designated Jehoram as the next king because he was the oldest.


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<pb/>But when Jehoram had become solidly established as king, he killed all his brothers and some of the other leaders of Judah.


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But the Lord did not want to destroy David’s dynasty, for he had made a covenant with David and promised that his descendants would continue to rule, shining like a lamp forever.


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So Jehoram went out with his full army and all his chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he went out at night and attacked them under cover of darkness.


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Even so, Edom has been independent from Judah to this day. The town of Libnah also revolted about that same time. All this happened because Jehoram had abandoned the Lord, the God of his ancestors.


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He had built pagan shrines in the hill country of Judah and had led the people of Jerusalem and Judah to give themselves to pagan gods and to go astray.


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<pb/>Then Elijah the prophet wrote Jehoram this letter: “This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: You have not followed the good example of your father, Jehoshaphat, or your grandfather King Asa of Judah.


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Instead, you have been as evil as the kings of Israel. You have led the people of Jerusalem and Judah to worship idols, just as King Ahab did in Israel. And you have even killed your own brothers, men who were better than you.


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So now the Lord is about to strike you, your people, your children, your wives, and all that is yours with a heavy blow.


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You yourself will suffer with a severe intestinal disease that will get worse each day until your bowels come out.”</t>


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<pb/>Then the Lord stirred up the Philistines and the Arabs, who lived near the Ethiopians, to attack Jehoram.


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They marched against Judah, broke down its defenses, and carried away everything of value in the royal palace, including the king’s sons and his wives. Only his youngest son, Ahaziah, was spared.


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The disease grew worse and worse, and at the end of two years it caused his bowels to come out, and he died in agony. His people did not build a great funeral fire to honor him as they had done for his ancestors.


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<pb/>Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. No one was sorry when he died. They buried him in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery.


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<pb/>Ahaziah Rules in Judah Then the people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram’s youngest son, their next king, since the marauding bands who came with the Arabs had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram reigned as king of Judah.


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Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother was Athaliah, a granddaughter of King Omri.


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Ahaziah also followed the evil example of King Ahab’s family, for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong.


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He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, just as Ahab’s family had done. They even became his advisers after the death of his father, and they led him to ruin.


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Following their evil advice, Ahaziah joined Joram, the son of King Ahab of Israel, in his war against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. When the Arameans wounded Joram in the battle,


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<pb/>But God had decided that this visit would be Ahaziah’s downfall. While he was there, Ahaziah went out with Joram to meet Jehu grandson of Nimshi, whom the Lord had appointed to destroy the dynasty of Ahab.


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While Jehu was executing judgment against the family of Ahab, he happened to meet some of Judah’s officials and Ahaziah’s relatives who were traveling with Ahaziah. So Jehu killed them all.


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Then Jehu’s men searched for Ahaziah, and they found him hiding in the city of Samaria. They brought him to Jehu, who killed him. Ahaziah was given a decent burial because the people said, <t>“He was the grandson of Jehoshaphat—a man who sought the Lord with all his heart.”</t> But none of the surviving members of Ahaziah’s family was capable of ruling the kingdom.


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Queen Athaliah Rules in Judah When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy the rest of Judah’s royal family.


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But Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash, and stole him away from among the rest of the king’s children, who were about to be killed. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom. In this way, Jehosheba, wife of Jehoiada the priest and sister of Ahaziah, hid the child so that Athaliah could not murder him.


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Revolt against Athaliah In the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign, Jehoiada the priest decided to act. He summoned his courage and made a pact with five army commanders: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri.


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These men traveled secretly throughout Judah and summoned the Levites and clan leaders in all the towns to come to Jerusalem.


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They all gathered at the Temple of God, where they made a solemn pact with Joash, the young king. Jehoiada said to them, <t>“Here is the king’s son! The time has come for him to reign! The Lord has promised that a descendant of David will be our king.


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This is what you must do. When you priests and Levites come on duty on the Sabbath, a third of you will serve as gatekeepers.


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Another third will go over to the royal palace, and the final third will be at the Foundation Gate. Everyone else should stay in the courtyards of the Lord’s Temple.


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Remember, only the priests and Levites on duty may enter the Temple of the Lord, for they are set apart as holy. The rest of the people must obey the Lord’s instructions and stay outside.


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You Levites, form a bodyguard around the king and keep your weapons in hand. Kill anyone who tries to enter the Temple. Stay with the king wherever he goes.”</t>


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<pb/>So the Levites and all the people of Judah did everything as Jehoiada the priest ordered. The commanders took charge of the men reporting for duty that Sabbath, as well as those who were going off duty. Jehoiada the priest did not let anyone go home after their shift ended.


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Then Jehoiada supplied the commanders with the spears and the large and small shields that had once belonged to King David and were stored in the Temple of God.


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He stationed all the people around the king, with their weapons ready. They formed a line from the south side of the Temple around to the north side and all around the altar.


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Then Jehoiada and his sons brought out Joash, the king’s son, placed the crown on his head, and presented him with a copy of God’s laws. They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and everyone shouted, <t>“Long live the king!”</t>


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<pb/>The Death of Athaliah When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and the shouts of praise to the king, she hurried to the Lord’s Temple to see what was happening.


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When she arrived, she saw the newly crowned king standing in his place of authority by the pillar at the Temple entrance. The commanders and trumpeters were surrounding him, and people from all over the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Singers with musical instruments were leading the people in a great celebration. When Athaliah saw all this, she tore her clothes in despair and shouted, <t>“Treason! Treason!”</t>


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So they seized her and led her out to the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and they killed her there.


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<pb/>Jehoiada’s Religious Reforms Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the king and the people that they would be the Lord’s people.


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And all the people went over to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They demolished the altars and smashed the idols, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.


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Jehoiada now put the priests and Levites in charge of the Temple of the Lord, following all the directions given by David. He also commanded them to present burnt offerings to the Lord, as prescribed by the Law of Moses, and to sing and rejoice as David had instructed.


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He also stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the Lord’s Temple to keep out those who for any reason were ceremonially unclean.


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Then the commanders, nobles, rulers, and all the people of the land escorted the king from the Temple of the Lord. They went through the upper gate and into the palace, and they seated the king on the royal throne.


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<pb/>Joash Repairs the Temple Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba.


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He summoned the priests and Levites and gave them these instructions: <t>“Go to all the towns of Judah and collect the required annual offerings, so that we can repair the Temple of your God. Do not delay!”</t> But the Levites did not act immediately.


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<pb/>So the king called for Jehoiada the high priest and asked him, “Why haven’t you demanded that the Levites go out and collect the Temple taxes from the towns of Judah and from Jerusalem? Moses, the servant of the Lord, levied this tax on the community of Israel in order to maintain the Tabernacle of the Covenant.”


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Over the years the followers of wicked Athaliah had broken into the Temple of God, and they had used all the dedicated things from the Temple of the Lord to worship the images of Baal.


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So now the king ordered a chest to be made and set outside the gate leading to the Temple of the Lord.


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Then a proclamation was sent throughout Judah and Jerusalem, telling the people to bring to the Lord the tax that Moses, the servant of God, had required of the Israelites in the wilderness.


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This pleased all the leaders and the people, and they gladly brought their money and filled the chest with it.


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Whenever the chest became full, the Levites would carry it to the king’s officials. Then the court secretary and an officer of the high priest would come and empty the chest and take it back to the Temple again. This went on day after day, and a large amount of money was collected.


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<pb/>The king and Jehoiada gave the money to the construction supervisors, who hired masons and carpenters to restore the Temple of the Lord. They also hired metalworkers, who made articles of iron and bronze for the Lord’s Temple.


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The men in charge of the renovation worked hard and made steady progress. They restored the Temple of God according to its original design and strengthened it.


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When all the repairs were finished, they brought the remaining money to the king and Jehoiada. It was used to make various articles for the Temple of the Lord—articles for worship services and for burnt offerings, including ladles and other articles made of gold and silver. And the burnt offerings were sacrificed continually in the Temple of the Lord during the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest.


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He was buried among the kings in the City of David, because he had done so much good in Israel for God and his Temple.


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<pb/>Jehoiada’s Reforms Reversed But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice.


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They decided to abandon the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead! Because of this sin, divine anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem.


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Yet the Lord sent prophets to bring them back to him. The prophets warned them, but still the people would not listen.


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Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, <t>“This is what God says: Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands and keep yourselves from prospering? You have abandoned the Lord, and now he has abandoned you!”</t>


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Then the leaders plotted to kill Zechariah, and King Joash ordered that they stone him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s Temple.


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That was how King Joash repaid Jehoiada for his loyalty—by killing his son. Zechariah’s last words as he died were, <t>“May the Lord see what they are doing and avenge my death!”</t>


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<pb/>The End of Joash’s Reign In the spring of the year the Aramean army marched against Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem and killed all the leaders of the nation. Then they sent all the plunder back to their king in Damascus.


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Although the Arameans attacked with only a small army, the Lord helped them conquer the much larger army of Judah. The people of Judah had abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, so judgment was carried out against Joash.


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The Arameans withdrew, leaving Joash severely wounded. But his own officials plotted to kill him for murdering the son of Jehoiada the priest. They assassinated him as he lay in bed. Then he was buried in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery.


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The assassins were Jozacar, the son of an Ammonite woman named Shimeath, and Jehozabad, the son of a Moabite woman named Shomer.


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<pb/>The account of the sons of Joash, the prophecies about him, and the record of his restoration of the Temple of God are written in The Commentary on the Book of the Kings. His son Amaziah became the next king.


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<pb/>Amaziah Rules in Judah Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Jehoaddin from Jerusalem.


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<pb/>Then Amaziah organized the army, assigning generals and captains for all Judah and Benjamin. He took a census and found that he had an army of 300,000 select troops, twenty years old and older, all trained in the use of spear and shield.


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<pb/>But a man of God came to him and said, “Your Majesty, do not hire troops from Israel, for the Lord is not with Israel. He will not help those people of Ephraim!


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If you let them go with your troops into battle, you will be defeated by the enemy no matter how well you fight. God will overthrow you, for he has the power to help you or to trip you up.”</t>


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Amaziah asked the man of God, <t>“But what about all that silver I paid to hire the army of Israel?”</t> The man of God replied, <t>“The Lord is able to give you much more than this!”</t>


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So Amaziah discharged the hired troops and sent them back to Ephraim. This made them very angry with Judah, and they returned home in a great rage.


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Then Amaziah summoned his courage and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where they killed 10,000 Edomite troops from Seir.


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They captured another 10,000 and took them to the top of a cliff and threw them off, dashing them to pieces on the rocks below.


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Meanwhile, the hired troops that Amaziah had sent home raided several of the towns of Judah between Samaria and Beth-horon. They killed 3,000 people and carried off great quantities of plunder.


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<pb/>When King Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down in front of them, and offered sacrifices to them!


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This made the Lord very angry, and he sent a prophet to ask, <t>“Why do you turn to gods who could not even save their own people from you?”</t>


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But the king interrupted him and said, <t>“Since when have I made you the king’s counselor? Be quiet now before I have you killed!”</t> So the prophet stopped with this warning: <t>“I know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have refused to accept my counsel.”</t>


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<pb/>After consulting with his advisers, King Amaziah of Judah sent this challenge to Israel’s king Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu: “Come and meet me in battle!”


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“You are saying, ‘I have defeated Edom,’ and you are very proud of it. But my advice is to stay at home. Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?”</t>


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<pb/>But Amaziah refused to listen, for God was determined to destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom.


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So King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah.


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King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah’s king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then he brought him to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet of Jerusalem’s wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.


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He carried off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of God that had been in the care of Obed-edom. He also seized the treasures of the royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria.


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The rest of the events in Amaziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.


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After Amaziah turned away from the Lord, there was a conspiracy against his life in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But his enemies sent assassins after him, and they killed him there.


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<pb/>Uzziah Rules in Judah All the people of Judah had crowned Amaziah’s sixteen-year-old son, Uzziah, as king in place of his father.


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<pb/>Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem.


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Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the Lord, God gave him success.


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<pb/>Uzziah declared war on the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built new towns in the Ashdod area and in other parts of Philistia.


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God helped him in his wars against the Philistines, his battles with the Arabs of Gur, and his wars with the Meunites.


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The Meunites paid annual tribute to him, and his fame spread even to Egypt, for he had become very powerful.


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<pb/>Uzziah built fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the angle in the wall.


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He also constructed forts in the wilderness and dug many water cisterns, because he kept great herds of livestock in the foothills of Judah and on the plains. He was also a man who loved the soil. He had many workers who cared for his farms and vineyards, both on the hillsides and in the fertile valleys.


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<pb/>Uzziah had an army of well-trained warriors, ready to march into battle, unit by unit. This army had been mustered and organized by Jeiel, the secretary of the army, and his assistant, Maaseiah. They were under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s officials.


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The army consisted of 307,500 men, all elite troops. They were prepared to assist the king against any enemy.


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Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and sling stones.


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And he built structures on the walls of Jerusalem, designed by experts to protect those who shot arrows and hurled large stones from the towers and the corners of the wall. His fame spread far and wide, for the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful.


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<pb/>Uzziah’s Sin and Punishment But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.


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They confronted King Uzziah and said, <t>“It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is the work of the priests alone, the descendants of Aaron who are set apart for this work. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have sinned. The Lord God will not honor you for this!”</t>


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Uzziah, who was holding an incense burner, became furious. But as he was standing there raging at the priests before the incense altar in the Lord’s Temple, leprosy suddenly broke out on his forehead.


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When Azariah the high priest and all the other priests saw the leprosy, they rushed him out. And the king himself was eager to get out because the Lord had struck him.


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So King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in isolation in a separate house, for he was excluded from the Temple of the Lord. His son Jotham was put in charge of the royal palace, and he governed the people of the land.


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<pb/>The rest of the events of Uzziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.


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When Uzziah died, he was buried with his ancestors; his grave was in a nearby burial field belonging to the kings, for the people said, <t>“He had leprosy.”</t> And his son Jotham became the next king.


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<pb/>Jotham Rules in Judah Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.


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Jotham did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah, had done, except that Jotham did not sin by entering the Temple of the Lord. But the people continued in their corrupt ways.


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<pb/>Jotham rebuilt the upper gate of the Temple of the Lord. He also did extensive rebuilding on the wall at the hill of Ophel.


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He built towns in the hill country of Judah and constructed fortresses and towers in the wooded areas.


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<pb/>Jotham went to war against the Ammonites and conquered them. Over the next three years he received from them an annual tribute of 7,500 pounds of silver, 50,000 bushels of wheat, and 50,000 bushels of barley.


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The rest of the events of Jotham’s reign, including all his wars and other activities, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.


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<pb/>Ahaz Rules in Judah Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. He did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord, as his ancestor David had done.


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Instead, he followed the example of the kings of Israel. He cast metal images for the worship of Baal.


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He offered sacrifices in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, even sacrificing his own sons in the fire. In this way, he followed the detestable practices of the pagan nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.


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<pb/>Because of all this, the Lord his God allowed the king of Aram to defeat Ahaz and to exile large numbers of his people to Damascus. The armies of the king of Israel also defeated Ahaz and inflicted many casualties on his army.


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In a single day Pekah son of Remaliah, Israel’s king, killed 120,000 of Judah’s troops, all of them experienced warriors, because they had abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors.


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Then Zicri, a warrior from Ephraim, killed Maaseiah, the king’s son; Azrikam, the king’s palace commander; and Elkanah, the king’s second-in-command.


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The armies of Israel captured 200,000 women and children from Judah and seized tremendous amounts of plunder, which they took back to Samaria.


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<pb/>But a prophet of the Lord named Oded was there in Samaria when the army of Israel returned home. He went out to meet them and said, “The Lord, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah and let you defeat them. But you have gone too far, killing them without mercy, and all heaven is disturbed.


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And now you are planning to make slaves of these people from Judah and Jerusalem. What about your own sins against the Lord your God?


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Listen to me and return these prisoners you have taken, for they are your own relatives. Watch out, because now the Lord’s fierce anger has been turned against you!”</t>


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Then some of the leaders of Israel—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—agreed with this and confronted the men returning from battle.


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“You must not bring the prisoners here!”</t> they declared. <t>“We cannot afford to add to our sins and guilt. Our guilt is already great, and the Lord’s fierce anger is already turned against Israel.”</t>


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So the warriors released the prisoners and handed over the plunder in the sight of the leaders and all the people.


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Then the four men just mentioned by name came forward and distributed clothes from the plunder to the prisoners who were naked. They provided clothing and sandals to wear, gave them enough food and drink, and dressed their wounds with olive oil. They put those who were weak on donkeys and took all the prisoners back to their own people in Jericho, the city of palms. Then they returned to Samaria.


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And the Philistines had raided towns located in the foothills of Judah and in the Negev of Judah. They had already captured and occupied Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages.


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The Lord was humbling Judah because of King Ahaz of Judah, for he had encouraged his people to sin and had been utterly unfaithful to the Lord.


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Ahaz took valuable items from the Lord’s Temple, the royal palace, and from the homes of his officials and gave them to the king of Assyria as tribute. But this did not help him.


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He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him, for he said, <t>“Since these gods helped the kings of Aram, they will help me, too, if I sacrifice to them.”</t> But instead, they led to his ruin and the ruin of all Judah.


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The king took the various articles from the Temple of God and broke them into pieces. He shut the doors of the Lord’s Temple so that no one could worship there, and he set up altars to pagan gods in every corner of Jerusalem.


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He made pagan shrines in all the towns of Judah for offering sacrifices to other gods. In this way, he aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of his ancestors.


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<pb/>The rest of the events of Ahaz’s reign and everything he did, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.


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When Ahaz died, he was buried in Jerusalem but not in the royal cemetery of the kings of Judah. Then his son Hezekiah became the next king.


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<pb/>Hezekiah Rules in Judah Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became the king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.


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<pb/>Hezekiah Reopens the Temple In the very first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah reopened the doors of the Temple of the Lord and repaired them.


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He said to them, <t>“Listen to me, you Levites! Purify yourselves, and purify the Temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all the defiled things from the sanctuary.


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Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They abandoned the Lord and his dwelling place; they turned their backs on him.


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They also shut the doors to the Temple’s entry room, and they snuffed out the lamps. They stopped burning incense and presenting burnt offerings at the sanctuary of the God of Israel.


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“That is why the Lord’s anger has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem. He has made them an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes.


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Because of this, our fathers have been killed in battle, and our sons and daughters and wives have been captured.


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But now I will make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us.


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My sons, do not neglect your duties any longer! The Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to lead the people in worship and present offerings to him.”</t>


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<pb/>Then these Levites got right to work: From the clan of Kohath: Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah. From the clan of Merari: Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel. From the clan of Gershon: Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah.


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<pb/>From the family of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel. From the family of Asaph: Zechariah and Mattaniah.


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<pb/>These men called together their fellow Levites, and they all purified themselves. Then they began to cleanse the Temple of the Lord, just as the king had commanded. They were careful to follow all the Lord’s instructions in their work.


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The priests went into the sanctuary of the Temple of the Lord to cleanse it, and they took out to the Temple courtyard all the defiled things they found. From there the Levites carted it all out to the Kidron Valley.


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They began the work in early spring, on the first day of the new year, and in eight days they had reached the entry room of the Lord’s Temple. Then they purified the Temple of the Lord itself, which took another eight days. So the entire task was completed in sixteen days.


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The Temple Rededication Then the Levites went to King Hezekiah and gave him this report: <t>“We have cleansed the entire Temple of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table of the Bread of the Presence with all its utensils.


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We have also recovered all the items discarded by King Ahaz when he was unfaithful and closed the Temple. They are now in front of the altar of the Lord, purified and ready for use.”</t>


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<pb/>Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials and went to the Temple of the Lord.


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They brought seven bulls, seven rams, and seven male lambs as a burnt offering, together with seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the Temple, and for Judah. The king commanded the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, to sacrifice the animals on the altar of the Lord.


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So they killed the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Next they killed the rams and sprinkled their blood on the altar. And finally, they did the same with the male lambs.


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The male goats for the sin offering were then brought before the king and the assembly of people, who laid their hands on them.


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The priests then killed the goats as a sin offering and sprinkled their blood on the altar to make atonement for the sins of all Israel. The king had specifically commanded that this burnt offering and sin offering should be made for all Israel.


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<pb/>King Hezekiah then stationed the Levites at the Temple of the Lord with cymbals, lyres, and harps. He obeyed all the commands that the Lord had given to King David through Gad, the king’s seer, and the prophet Nathan.


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The Levites then took their positions around the Temple with the instruments of David, and the priests took their positions with the trumpets.


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Then Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be placed on the altar. As the burnt offering was presented, songs of praise to the Lord were begun, accompanied by the trumpets and other instruments of David, the former king of Israel.


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The entire assembly worshiped the Lord as the singers sang and the trumpets blew, until all the burnt offerings were finished.


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King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the psalms written by David and by Asaph the seer. So they offered joyous praise and bowed down in worship.


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Then Hezekiah declared, <t>“Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord, bring your sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings to the Temple of the Lord.”</t> So the people brought their sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings, too.


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But there were too few priests to prepare all the burnt offerings. So their relatives the Levites helped them until the work was finished and more priests had been purified, for the Levites had been more conscientious about purifying themselves than the priests had been.


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There was an abundance of burnt offerings, along with the usual liquid offerings, and a great deal of fat from the many peace offerings. So the Temple of the Lord was restored to service.


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And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people, for everything had been accomplished so quickly.


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<pb/>Preparations for Passover King Hezekiah now sent word to all Israel and Judah, and he wrote letters of invitation to the people of Ephraim and Manasseh. He asked everyone to come to the Temple of the Lord at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the Lord, the God of Israel.


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The king, his officials, and all the community of Jerusalem decided to celebrate Passover a month later than usual.


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They were unable to celebrate it at the prescribed time because not enough priests could be purified by then, and the people had not yet assembled at Jerusalem.


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So they sent a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north, inviting everyone to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the Lord, the God of Israel. The people had not been celebrating it in great numbers as required in the Law.


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At the king’s command, runners were sent throughout Israel and Judah. They carried letters that said: <t>“O people of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he will return to the few of us who have survived the conquest of the Assyrian kings.


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Do not be like your ancestors and relatives who abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and became an object of derision, as you yourselves can see.


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Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the Lord. Come to his Temple, which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the Lord your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.


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“For if you return to the Lord, your relatives and your children will be treated mercifully by their captors, and they will be able to return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful. If you return to him, he will not continue to turn his face from you.”</t>


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<pb/>Celebration of Passover The runners went from town to town throughout Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as the territory of Zebulun. But most of the people just laughed at the runners and made fun of them.


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At the same time, God’s hand was on the people in the land of Judah, giving them all one heart to obey the orders of the king and his officials, who were following the word of the Lord.


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They set to work and removed the pagan altars from Jerusalem. They took away all the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.


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<pb/>On the fourteenth day of the second month, one month later than usual, the people slaughtered the Passover lamb. This shamed the priests and Levites, so they purified themselves and brought burnt offerings to the Temple of the Lord.


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Then they took their places at the Temple as prescribed in the Law of Moses, the man of God. The Levites brought the sacrificial blood to the priests, who then sprinkled it on the altar.


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Since many of the people had not purified themselves, the Levites had to slaughter their Passover lamb for them, to set them apart for the Lord.


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Most of those who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves. But King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal anyway, even though this was contrary to the requirements of the Law. For Hezekiah said, <t>“May the Lord, who is good, pardon those


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who decide to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony.”</t>


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<pb/>So the people of Israel who were present in Jerusalem joyously celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. Each day the Levites and priests sang to the Lord, accompanied by loud instruments.


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Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites regarding the skill they displayed as they served the Lord. The celebration continued for seven days. Peace offerings were sacrificed, and the people gave thanks to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.


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<pb/>The entire assembly then decided to continue the festival another seven days, so they celebrated joyfully for another week.


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King Hezekiah gave the people 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep and goats for offerings, and the officials donated 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep and goats. Meanwhile, many more priests purified themselves.


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The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, including the priests, the Levites, all who came from the land of Israel, the foreigners who came to the festival, and all those who lived in Judah.


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There was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this one since the days of Solomon, King David’s son.


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Then the priests and Levites stood and blessed the people, and God heard their prayer from his holy dwelling in heaven.


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Hezekiah’s Religious Reforms When the festival ended, the Israelites who attended went to all the towns of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, and they smashed all the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and removed the pagan shrines and altars. After this, the Israelites returned to their own towns and homes.


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Hezekiah then organized the priests and Levites into divisions to offer the burnt offerings and peace offerings, and to worship and give thanks and praise to the Lord at the gates of the Temple.


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<pb/>The king also made a personal contribution of animals for the daily morning and evening burnt offerings, the weekly Sabbath festivals, the monthly new moon festivals, and the annual festivals as prescribed in the Law of the Lord.


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In addition, he required the people in Jerusalem to bring a portion of their goods to the priests and Levites, so they could devote themselves fully to the Law of the Lord.


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When the people of Israel heard these requirements, they responded generously by bringing the first share of their grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a large quantity—a tithe of all they produced.


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The people who had moved to Judah from Israel, and the people of Judah themselves, brought in the tithes of their cattle, sheep, and goats and a tithe of the things that had been dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them up in great heaps.


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When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw these huge piles, they thanked the Lord and his people Israel!


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And Azariah the high priest, from the family of Zadok, replied, <t>“Since the people began bringing their gifts to the Lord’s Temple, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare. The Lord has blessed his people, and all this is left over.”</t>


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the people faithfully brought all the gifts, tithes, and other items dedicated for use in the Temple. Conaniah the Levite was put in charge, assisted by his brother Shimei.


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The supervisors under them were Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath, and Benaiah. These appointments were made by King Hezekiah and Azariah, the chief official in the Temple of God.


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<pb/>Kore son of Imnah the Levite, who was the gatekeeper at the East Gate, was put in charge of distributing the voluntary offerings given to God, the gifts, and the things that had been dedicated to the Lord.


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His faithful assistants were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah. They distributed the gifts among the families of priests in their towns by their divisions, dividing the gifts fairly among old and young alike.


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They distributed the gifts to all males three years old or older, regardless of their place in the genealogical records. The distribution went to all who would come to the Lord’s Temple to perform their daily duties according to their divisions.


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They distributed gifts to the priests who were listed by their families in the genealogical records, and to the Levites twenty years old or older who were listed according to their jobs and their divisions.


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Food allotments were also given to the families of all those listed in the genealogical records, including their little babies, wives, sons, and daughters. For they had all been faithful in purifying themselves.


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As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who were living in the open villages around the towns, men were appointed by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to all the Levites listed in the genealogical records.


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<pb/>In this way, King Hezekiah handled the distribution throughout all Judah, doing what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God.


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In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God’s laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful.


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<pb/>Assyria Invades Judah After Hezekiah had faithfully carried out this work, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified towns, giving orders for his army to break through their walls.


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he consulted with his officials and military advisers, and they decided to stop the flow of the springs outside the city.


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They organized a huge work crew to stop the flow of the springs, cutting off the brook that ran through the fields. For they said, <t>“Why should the kings of Assyria come here and find plenty of water?”</t>


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Then Hezekiah worked hard at repairing all the broken sections of the wall, erecting towers, and constructing a second wall outside the first. He also reinforced the supporting terraces in the City of David and manufactured large numbers of weapons and shields.


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<pb/>He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate. Then Hezekiah encouraged them by saying:


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“Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side!


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He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!”</t> Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people.


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<pb/>Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem While King Sennacherib of Assyria was still besieging the town of Lachish, he sent his officers to Jerusalem with this message for Hezekiah and all the people in the city:


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“This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you think you can survive my siege of Jerusalem?


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Hezekiah has said, ‘The Lord our God will rescue us from the king of Assyria.’ Surely Hezekiah is misleading you, sentencing you to death by famine and thirst!


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Don’t you realize that Hezekiah is the very person who destroyed all the Lord’s shrines and altars? He commanded Judah and Jerusalem to worship only at the altar at the Temple and to offer sacrifices on it alone.


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“Surely you must realize what I and the other kings of Assyria before me have done to all the people of the earth! Were any of the gods of those nations able to rescue their people from my power?


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Which of their gods was able to rescue its people from the destructive power of my predecessors? What makes you think your God can rescue you from me?


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Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you! Don’t let him fool you like this! I say it again—no god of any nation or kingdom has ever yet been able to rescue his people from me or my ancestors. How much less will your God rescue you from my power!”</t>


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<pb/>And Sennacherib’s officers further mocked the Lord God and his servant Hezekiah, heaping insult upon insult.


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The king also sent letters scorning the Lord, the God of Israel. He wrote, <t>“Just as the gods of all the other nations failed to rescue their people from my power, so the God of Hezekiah will also fail.”</t>


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The Assyrian officials who brought the letters shouted this in Hebrew to the people gathered on the walls of the city, trying to terrify them so it would be easier to capture the city.


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These officers talked about the God of Jerusalem as though he were one of the pagan gods, made by human hands.


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And the Lord sent an angel who destroyed the Assyrian army with all its commanders and officers. So Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace to his own land. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him there with a sword.


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That is how the Lord rescued Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria and from all the others who threatened them. So there was peace throughout the land.


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From then on King Hezekiah became highly respected among all the surrounding nations, and many gifts for the Lord arrived at Jerusalem, with valuable presents for King Hezekiah, too.


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Hezekiah’s Sickness and Recovery About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill. He prayed to the Lord, who healed him and gave him a miraculous sign.


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But Hezekiah did not respond appropriately to the kindness shown him, and he became proud. So the Lord’s anger came against him and against Judah and Jerusalem.


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Then Hezekiah humbled himself and repented of his pride, as did the people of Jerusalem. So the Lord’s anger did not fall on them during Hezekiah’s lifetime.


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<pb/>Hezekiah was very wealthy and highly honored. He built special treasury buildings for his silver, gold, precious stones, and spices, and for his shields and other valuable items.


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He also constructed many storehouses for his grain, new wine, and olive oil; and he made many stalls for his cattle and pens for his flocks of sheep and goats.


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<pb/>He blocked up the upper spring of Gihon and brought the water down through a tunnel to the west side of the City of David. And so he succeeded in everything he did.


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However, when ambassadors arrived from Babylon to ask about the remarkable events that had taken place in the land, God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart.


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<pb/>Summary of Hezekiah’s Reign The rest of the events in Hezekiah’s reign and his acts of devotion are recorded in The Vision of the Prophet Isaiah Son of Amoz, which is included in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.


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When Hezekiah died, he was buried in the upper area of the royal cemetery, and all Judah and Jerusalem honored him at his death. And his son Manasseh became the next king.


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<pb/>Manasseh Rules in Judah Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years.


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He rebuilt the pagan shrines his father, Hezekiah, had broken down. He constructed altars for the images of Baal and set up Asherah poles. He also bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshiped them.


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Manasseh also sacrificed his own sons in the fire in the valley of Ben-Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the Lord’s sight, arousing his anger.


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Manasseh even took a carved idol he had made and set it up in God’s Temple, the very place where God had told David and his son Solomon: <t>“My name will be honored forever in this Temple and in Jerusalem—the city I have chosen from among all the tribes of Israel.


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If the Israelites will be careful to obey my commands—all the laws, decrees, and regulations given through Moses—I will not send them into exile from this land that I set aside for your ancestors.”</t>


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But Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem to do even more evil than the pagan nations that the Lord had destroyed when the people of Israel entered the land.


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So the Lord sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon.


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But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors.


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And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God!


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<pb/>After this Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David, from west of the Gihon Spring in the Kidron Valley to the Fish Gate, and continuing around the hill of Ophel. He built the wall very high. And he stationed his military officers in all of the fortified towns of Judah.


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<pb/>Manasseh also removed the foreign gods and the idol from the Lord’s Temple. He tore down all the altars he had built on the hill where the Temple stood and all the altars that were in Jerusalem, and he dumped them outside the city.


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Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed peace offerings and thanksgiving offerings on it. He also encouraged the people of Judah to worship the Lord, the God of Israel.


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<pb/>The rest of the events of Manasseh’s reign, his prayer to God, and the words the seers spoke to him in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Israel.


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Manasseh’s prayer, the account of the way God answered him, and an account of all his sins and unfaithfulness are recorded in The Record of the Seers. It includes a list of the locations where he built pagan shrines and set up Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself and repented.


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Amon Rules in Judah Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years.


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He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, just as his father, Manasseh, had done. He worshiped and sacrificed to all the idols his father had made.


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<pb/>Josiah Rules in Judah Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.


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<pb/>During the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. Then in the twelfth year he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, destroying all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles, and the carved idols and cast images.


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He ordered that the altars of Baal be demolished and that the incense altars which stood above them be broken down. He also made sure that the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images were smashed and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.


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He burned the bones of the pagan priests on their own altars, and so he purified Judah and Jerusalem.


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He did the same thing in the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, even as far as Naphtali, and in the regions all around them.


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He destroyed the pagan altars and the Asherah poles, and he crushed the idols into dust. He cut down all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Finally, he returned to Jerusalem.


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<pb/>In the eighteenth year of his reign, after he had purified the land and the Temple, Josiah appointed Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of Jerusalem, and Joah son of Joahaz, the royal historian, to repair the Temple of the Lord his God.


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They gave Hilkiah the high priest the money that had been collected by the Levites who served as gatekeepers at the Temple of God. The gifts were brought by people from Manasseh, Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, as well as from all Judah, Benjamin, and the people of Jerusalem.


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He entrusted the money to the men assigned to supervise the restoration of the Lord’s Temple. Then they paid the workers who did the repairs and renovation of the Temple.


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They hired carpenters and builders, who purchased finished stone for the walls and timber for the rafters and beams. They restored what earlier kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.


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The workers served faithfully under the leadership of Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the Merarite clan, and Zechariah and Meshullam, Levites of the Kohathite clan. Other Levites, all of whom were skilled musicians,


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were put in charge of the laborers of the various trades. Still others assisted as secretaries, officials, and gatekeepers.


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<pb/>Hilkiah Discovers God’s Law While they were bringing out the money collected at the Lord’s Temple, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that was written by Moses.


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Hilkiah said to Shaphan the court secretary, <t>“I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord’s Temple!”</t> Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan.


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Shaphan took the scroll to the king and reported, <t>“Your officials are doing everything they were assigned to do.


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The money that was collected at the Temple of the Lord has been turned over to the supervisors and workmen.”</t>


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Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king’s personal adviser:


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“Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for all the remnant of Israel and Judah. Inquire about the words written in the scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger has been poured out on us because our ancestors have not obeyed the word of the Lord. We have not been doing everything this scroll says we must do.”</t>


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<pb/>So Hilkiah and the other men went to the New Quarter of Jerusalem to consult with the prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, the keeper of the Temple wardrobe.


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‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this city and its people. All the curses written in the scroll that was read to the king of Judah will come true.


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For my people have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to pagan gods, and I am very angry with them for everything they have done. My anger will be poured out on this place, and it will not be quenched.’


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You were sorry and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this city and its people. You humbled yourself and tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord.


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So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You yourself will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city and its people.’”</t> So they took her message back to the king.


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And the king went up to the Temple of the Lord with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, along with the priests and the Levites—all the people from the greatest to the least. There the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the Lord’s Temple.


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The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the Lord’s presence. He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll.


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And he required everyone in Jerusalem and the people of Benjamin to make a similar pledge. The people of Jerusalem did so, renewing their covenant with God, the God of their ancestors.


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So Josiah removed all detestable idols from the entire land of Israel and required everyone to worship the Lord their God. And throughout the rest of his lifetime, they did not turn away from the Lord, the God of their ancestors.


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<pb/>Josiah Celebrates Passover Then Josiah announced that the Passover of the Lord would be celebrated in Jerusalem, and so the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month.


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Josiah also assigned the priests to their duties and encouraged them in their work at the Temple of the Lord.


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He issued this order to the Levites, who were to teach all Israel and who had been set apart to serve the Lord: <t>“Put the holy Ark in the Temple that was built by Solomon son of David, the king of Israel. You no longer need to carry it back and forth on your shoulders. Now spend your time serving the Lord your God and his people Israel.


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Report for duty according to the family divisions of your ancestors, following the directions of King David of Israel and the directions of his son Solomon.


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“Then stand in the sanctuary at the place appointed for your family division and help the families assigned to you as they bring their offerings to the Temple.


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Slaughter the Passover lambs, purify yourselves, and prepare to help those who come. Follow all the directions that the Lord gave through Moses.”</t>


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<pb/>Then Josiah provided 30,000 lambs and young goats for the people’s Passover offerings, along with 3,000 cattle, all from the king’s own flocks and herds.


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The king’s officials also made willing contributions to the people, priests, and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the administrators of God’s Temple, gave the priests 2,600 lambs and young goats and 300 cattle as Passover offerings.


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The Levite leaders—Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, as well as Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad—gave 5,000 lambs and young goats and 500 cattle to the Levites for their Passover offerings.


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When everything was ready for the Passover celebration, the priests and the Levites took their places, organized by their divisions, as the king had commanded.


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The Levites then slaughtered the Passover lambs and presented the blood to the priests, who sprinkled the blood on the altar while the Levites prepared the animals.


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They divided the burnt offerings among the people by their family groups, so they could offer them to the Lord as prescribed in the Book of Moses. They did the same with the cattle.


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Then they roasted the Passover lambs as prescribed; and they boiled the holy offerings in pots, kettles, and pans, and brought them out quickly so the people could eat them.


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Afterward the Levites prepared Passover offerings for themselves and for the priests—the descendants of Aaron—because the priests had been busy from morning till night offering the burnt offerings and the fat portions. The Levites took responsibility for all these preparations.


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The musicians, descendants of Asaph, were in their assigned places, following the commands that had been given by David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, the king’s seer. The gatekeepers guarded the gates and did not need to leave their posts of duty, for their Passover offerings were prepared for them by their fellow Levites.


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The entire ceremony for the Lord’s Passover was completed that day. All the burnt offerings were sacrificed on the altar of the Lord, as King Josiah had commanded.


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All the Israelites present in Jerusalem celebrated Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days.


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Never since the time of the prophet Samuel had there been such a Passover. None of the kings of Israel had ever kept a Passover as Josiah did, involving all the priests and Levites, all the people of Jerusalem, and people from all over Judah and Israel.


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Josiah Dies in Battle After Josiah had finished restoring the Temple, King Neco of Egypt led his army up from Egypt to do battle at Carchemish on the Euphrates River, and Josiah and his army marched out to fight him.


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But King Neco sent messengers to Josiah with this message: <t>“What do you want with me, king of Judah? I have no quarrel with you today! I am on my way to fight another nation, and God has told me to hurry! Do not interfere with God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.”</t>


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But Josiah refused to listen to Neco, to whom God had indeed spoken, and he would not turn back. Instead, he disguised himself and led his army into battle on the plain of Megiddo.


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But the enemy archers hit King Josiah with their arrows and wounded him. He cried out to his men, <t>“Take me from the battle, for I am badly wounded!”</t>


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So they lifted Josiah out of his chariot and placed him in another chariot. Then they brought him back to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried there in the royal cemetery. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.


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The prophet Jeremiah composed funeral songs for Josiah, and to this day choirs still sing these sad songs about his death. These songs of sorrow have become a tradition and are recorded in The Book of Laments.


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<pb/>The rest of the events of Josiah’s reign and his acts of devotion (carried out according to what was written in the Law of the Lord),


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<pb/>Jehoahaz Rules in Judah Then the people of the land took Josiah’s son Jehoahaz and made him the next king in Jerusalem.


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Then he was deposed by the king of Egypt, who demanded that Judah pay 7,500 pounds of silver and 75 pounds of gold as tribute.


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Jehoiakim Rules in Judah The king of Egypt then installed Eliakim, the brother of Jehoahaz, as the next king of Judah and Jerusalem, and he changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. Then Neco took Jehoahaz to Egypt as a prisoner.


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Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God.


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Then King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and captured it, and he bound Jehoiakim in bronze chains and led him away to Babylon.


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Nebuchadnezzar also took some of the treasures from the Temple of the Lord, and he placed them in his palace in Babylon.


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<pb/>The rest of the events in Jehoiakim’s reign, including all the evil things he did and everything found against him, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. Then his son Jehoiachin became the next king.


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Jehoiachin Rules in Judah Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. Jehoiachin did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.


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In the spring of the year King Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin to Babylon. Many treasures from the Temple of the Lord were also taken to Babylon at that time. And Nebuchadnezzar installed Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah, as the next king in Judah and Jerusalem.


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Zedekiah Rules in Judah Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years.


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But Zedekiah did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and he refused to humble himself when the prophet Jeremiah spoke to him directly from the Lord.


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He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, even though he had taken an oath of loyalty in God’s name. Zedekiah was a hard and stubborn man, refusing to turn to the Lord, the God of Israel.


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Likewise, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful. They followed all the pagan practices of the surrounding nations, desecrating the Temple of the Lord that had been consecrated in Jerusalem.


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The Lord, the God of their ancestors, repeatedly sent his prophets to warn them, for he had compassion on his people and his Temple.


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But the people mocked these messengers of God and despised their words. They scoffed at the prophets until the Lord’s anger could no longer be restrained and nothing could be done.


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The Fall of Jerusalem So the Lord brought the king of Babylon against them. The Babylonians killed Judah’s young men, even chasing after them into the Temple. They had no pity on the people, killing both young men and young women, the old and the infirm. God handed all of them over to Nebuchadnezzar.


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The king took home to Babylon all the articles, large and small, used in the Temple of God, and the treasures from both the Lord’s Temple and from the palace of the king and his officials.


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Then his army burned the Temple of God, tore down the walls of Jerusalem, burned all the palaces, and completely destroyed everything of value.


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The few who survived were taken as exiles to Babylon, and they became servants to the king and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power.


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So the message of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate until the seventy years were fulfilled, just as the prophet had said.


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Cyrus Allows the Exiles to Return In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:


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“This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: <t>“The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are his people may go there for this task. And may the Lord your God be with you!”</t>


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<pb/>Cyrus Allows the Exiles to Return In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:


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<pb/>“This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.


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Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you!


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Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.”</t>


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Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the Lord.


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And all their neighbors assisted by giving them articles of silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock. They gave them many valuable gifts in addition to all the voluntary offerings.


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<pb/>King Cyrus himself brought out the articles that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his own gods.


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Cyrus directed Mithredath, the treasurer of Persia, to count these items and present them to Sheshbazzar, the leader of the exiles returning to Judah.


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<pb/><t>This is a list of the items that were returned: gold basins 30 silver basins 1,000 silver incense burners 29</t>


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In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and silver. Sheshbazzar brought all of these along when the exiles went from Babylon to Jerusalem.


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<pb/>Exiles Who Returned with Zerubbabel Here is the list of the Jewish exiles of the provinces who returned from their captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar had deported them to Babylon, but now they returned to Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah where they originally lived.


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Their leaders were Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. This is the number of the men of Israel who returned from exile:


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<pb/>These are the priests who returned from exile: The family of Jedaiah (through the line of Jeshua) 973


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<pb/>These are the Levites who returned from exile: The families of Jeshua and Kadmiel (descendants of Hodaviah) 74


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<pb/>The descendants of these servants of King Solomon returned from exile: Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,


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<pb/>Another group returned at this time from the towns of Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Kerub, Addan, and Immer. However, they could not prove that they or their families were descendants of Israel.


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<pb/>Three families of priests—Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai—also returned. (This Barzillai had married a woman who was a descendant of Barzillai of Gilead, and he had taken her family name.)


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They searched for their names in the genealogical records, but they were not found, so they were disqualified from serving as priests.


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The governor told them not to eat the priests’ share of food from the sacrifices until a priest could consult the Lord about the matter by using the Urim and Thummim—the sacred lots.


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When they arrived at the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders made voluntary offerings toward the rebuilding of God’s Temple on its original site,


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and each leader gave as much as he could. The total of their gifts came to 61,000 gold coins, 6,250 pounds of silver, and 100 robes for the priests.


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<pb/>So the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, the Temple servants, and some of the common people settled in villages near Jerusalem. The rest of the people returned to their own towns throughout Israel.


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<pb/>The Altar Is Rebuilt In early autumn, when the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled in Jerusalem with a unified purpose.


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Then Jeshua son of Jehozadak joined his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel with his family in rebuilding the altar of the God of Israel. They wanted to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as instructed in the Law of Moses, the man of God.


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Even though the people were afraid of the local residents, they rebuilt the altar at its old site. Then they began to sacrifice burnt offerings on the altar to the Lord each morning and evening.


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They celebrated the Festival of Shelters as prescribed in the Law, sacrificing the number of burnt offerings specified for each day of the festival.


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They also offered the regular burnt offerings and the offerings required for the new moon celebrations and the annual festivals as prescribed by the Lord. The people also gave voluntary offerings to the Lord.


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Fifteen days before the Festival of Shelters began, the priests had begun to sacrifice burnt offerings to the Lord. This was even before they had started to lay the foundation of the Lord’s Temple.


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The People Begin to Rebuild the Temple Then the people hired masons and carpenters and bought cedar logs from the people of Tyre and Sidon, paying them with food, wine, and olive oil. The logs were brought down from the Lebanon mountains and floated along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Joppa, for King Cyrus had given permission for this.


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The construction of the Temple of God began in midspring, during the second year after they arrived in Jerusalem. The work force was made up of everyone who had returned from exile, including Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jehozadak and his fellow priests, and all the Levites. The Levites who were twenty years old or older were put in charge of rebuilding the Lord’s Temple.


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The workers at the Temple of God were supervised by Jeshua with his sons and relatives, and Kadmiel and his sons, all descendants of Hodaviah. They were helped in this task by the Levites of the family of Henadad.


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When the builders completed the foundation of the Lord’s Temple, the priests put on their robes and took their places to blow their trumpets. And the Levites, descendants of Asaph, clashed their cymbals to praise the Lord, just as King David had prescribed.


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With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord: <t>“He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!”</t> Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s Temple had been laid.


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But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy.


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The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance.


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<pb/>Enemies Oppose the Rebuilding The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel.


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So they approached Zerubbabel and the other leaders and said, <t>“Let us build with you, for we worship your God just as you do. We have sacrificed to him ever since King Esarhaddon of Assyria brought us here.”</t>


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But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel replied, <t>“You may have no part in this work. We alone will build the Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us.”</t>


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Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work.


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They bribed agents to work against them and to frustrate their plans. This went on during the entire reign of King Cyrus of Persia and lasted until King Darius of Persia took the throne.


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Later Opposition under Xerxes and Artaxerxes Years later when Xerxes began his reign, the enemies of Judah wrote a letter of accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.


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Even later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, the enemies of Judah, led by Bishlam, Mithredath, and Tabeel, sent a letter to Artaxerxes in the Aramaic language, and it was translated for the king.


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<pb/>Rehum the governor and Shimshai the court secretary wrote the letter, telling King Artaxerxes about the situation in Jerusalem.


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They greeted the king for all their colleagues—the judges and local leaders, the people of Tarpel, the Persians, the Babylonians, and the people of Erech and Susa (that is, Elam).


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They also sent greetings from the rest of the people whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal had deported and relocated in Samaria and throughout the neighboring lands of the province west of the Euphrates River.


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This is a copy of their letter: <t>“To King Artaxerxes, from your loyal subjects in the province west of the Euphrates River.


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“The king should know that the Jews who came here to Jerusalem from Babylon are rebuilding this rebellious and evil city. They have already laid the foundation and will soon finish its walls.


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And the king should know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, it will be much to your disadvantage, for the Jews will then refuse to pay their tribute, customs, and tolls to you.


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“Since we are your loyal subjects and do not want to see the king dishonored in this way, we have sent the king this information.


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We suggest that a search be made in your ancestors’ records, where you will discover what a rebellious city this has been in the past. In fact, it was destroyed because of its long and troublesome history of revolt against the kings and countries who controlled it.


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We declare to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the province west of the Euphrates River will be lost to you.”</t>


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<pb/>Then King Artaxerxes sent this reply: “To Rehum the governor, Shimshai the court secretary, and their colleagues living in Samaria and throughout the province west of the Euphrates River. Greetings.


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I ordered a search of the records and have found that Jerusalem has indeed been a hotbed of insurrection against many kings. In fact, rebellion and revolt are normal there!


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Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and the entire province west of the Euphrates River, receiving tribute, customs, and tolls.


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Therefore, issue orders to have these men stop their work. That city must not be rebuilt except at my express command.


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Be diligent, and don’t neglect this matter, for we must not permit the situation to harm the king’s interests.”</t>


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<pb/>When this letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai, and their colleagues, they hurried to Jerusalem. Then, with a show of strength, they forced the Jews to stop building.


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<pb/>The Rebuilding Resumes So the work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem had stopped, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.


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<pb/>At that time the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.


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Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jehozadak responded by starting again to rebuild the Temple of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them and helped them.


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<pb/>But Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues soon arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?”


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But because their God was watching over them, the leaders of the Jews were not prevented from building until a report was sent to Darius and he returned his decision.


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<pb/>Tattenai’s Letter to King Darius This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai the governor, Shethar-bozenai, and the other officials of the province west of the Euphrates River sent to King Darius:


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“The king should know that we went to the construction site of the Temple of the great God in the province of Judah. It is being rebuilt with specially prepared stones, and timber is being laid in its walls. The work is going forward with great energy and success.


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“This was their answer: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the Temple that was built here many years ago by a great king of Israel.


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But because our ancestors angered the God of heaven, he abandoned them to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who destroyed this Temple and exiled the people to Babylonia.


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However, King Cyrus of Babylon, during the first year of his reign, issued a decree that the Temple of God should be rebuilt.


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King Cyrus returned the gold and silver cups that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple of God in Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of Babylon. These cups were taken from that temple and presented to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom King Cyrus appointed as governor of Judah.


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The king instructed him to return the cups to their place in Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple of God there on its original site.


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So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the Temple of God in Jerusalem. The people have been working on it ever since, though it is not yet completed.’


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<pb/>“Therefore, if it pleases the king, we request that a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to discover whether King Cyrus ever issued a decree to rebuild God’s Temple in Jerusalem. And then let the king send us his decision in this matter.”


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<pb/>Darius Approves the Rebuilding So King Darius issued orders that a search be made in the Babylonian archives, which were stored in the treasury.


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But it was at the fortress at Ecbatana in the province of Media that a scroll was found. This is what it said: <t>“Memorandum:


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“In the first year of King Cyrus’s reign, a decree was sent out concerning the Temple of God at Jerusalem. <t>“Let the Temple be rebuilt on the site where Jews used to offer their sacrifices, using the original foundations. Its height will be ninety feet, and its width will be ninety feet.


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Every three layers of specially prepared stones will be topped by a layer of timber. All expenses will be paid by the royal treasury.


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Furthermore, the gold and silver cups, which were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar from the Temple of God in Jerusalem, must be returned to Jerusalem and put back where they belong. Let them be taken back to the Temple of God.”</t>


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<pb/>So King Darius sent this message: “Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai, and your colleagues and other officials west of the Euphrates River—stay away from there!


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Do not disturb the construction of the Temple of God. Let it be rebuilt on its original site, and do not hinder the governor of Judah and the elders of the Jews in their work.


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<pb/>“Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of the Jews as they rebuild this Temple of God. You must pay the full construction costs, without delay, from my taxes collected in the province west of the Euphrates River so that the work will not be interrupted.


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“Give the priests in Jerusalem whatever is needed in the way of young bulls, rams, and male lambs for the burnt offerings presented to the God of heaven. And without fail, provide them with as much wheat, salt, wine, and olive oil as they need each day.


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Then they will be able to offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the welfare of the king and his sons.


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“Those who violate this decree in any way will have a beam pulled from their house. Then they will be lifted up and impaled on it, and their house will be reduced to a pile of rubble.


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May the God who has chosen the city of Jerusalem as the place to honor his name destroy any king or nation that violates this command and destroys this Temple. <t>“I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be obeyed with all diligence.”</t>


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The Temple’s Dedication Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues complied at once with the command of King Darius.


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So the Jewish elders continued their work, and they were greatly encouraged by the preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo. The Temple was finally finished, as had been commanded by the God of Israel and decreed by Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, the kings of Persia.


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<pb/>The Temple of God was then dedicated with great joy by the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the people who had returned from exile.


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During the dedication ceremony for the Temple of God, 100 young bulls, 200 rams, and 400 male lambs were sacrificed. And 12 male goats were presented as a sin offering for the twelve tribes of Israel.


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Then the priests and Levites were divided into their various divisions to serve at the Temple of God in Jerusalem, as prescribed in the Book of Moses.


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The priests and Levites had purified themselves and were ceremonially clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves.


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The Passover meal was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile and by the others in the land who had turned from their immoral customs to worship the Lord, the God of Israel.


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Then they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. There was great joy throughout the land because the Lord had caused the king of Assyria to be favorable to them, so that he helped them to rebuild the Temple of God, the God of Israel.


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<pb/>Ezra Arrives in Jerusalem Many years later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, there was a man named Ezra. He was the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,


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This Ezra was a scribe who was well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given to the people of Israel. He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the Lord his God was on him.


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Some of the people of Israel, as well as some of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants, traveled up to Jerusalem with him in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes’ reign.


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He had arranged to leave Babylon on April 8, the first day of the new year, and he arrived at Jerusalem on August 4, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.


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This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.


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Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra King Artaxerxes had given a copy of the following letter to Ezra, the priest and scribe who studied and taught the commands and decrees of the Lord to Israel:


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<pb/>“From Artaxerxes, the king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the teacher of the law of the God of heaven. Greetings.


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“I decree that any of the people of Israel in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may volunteer to return to Jerusalem with you.


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I and my council of seven hereby instruct you to conduct an inquiry into the situation in Judah and Jerusalem, based on your God’s law, which is in your hand.


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We also commission you to take with you silver and gold, which we are freely presenting as an offering to the God of Israel who lives in Jerusalem.


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“Furthermore, you are to take any silver and gold that you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the voluntary offerings of the people and the priests that are presented for the Temple of their God in Jerusalem.


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These donations are to be used specifically for the purchase of bulls, rams, male lambs, and the appropriate grain offerings and liquid offerings, all of which will be offered on the altar of the Temple of your God in Jerusalem.


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Any silver and gold that is left over may be used in whatever way you and your colleagues feel is the will of your God.


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“But as for the cups we are entrusting to you for the service of the Temple of your God, deliver them all to the God of Jerusalem.


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If you need anything else for your God’s Temple or for any similar needs, you may take it from the royal treasury.


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<pb/>“I, Artaxerxes the king, hereby send this decree to all the treasurers in the province west of the Euphrates River: ‘You are to give Ezra, the priest and teacher of the law of the God of heaven, whatever he requests of you.


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You are to give him up to 7,500 pounds of silver, 500 bushels of wheat, 550 gallons of wine, 550 gallons of olive oil, and an unlimited supply of salt.


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Be careful to provide whatever the God of heaven demands for his Temple, for why should we risk bringing God’s anger against the realm of the king and his sons?


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I also decree that no priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, Temple servant, or other worker in this Temple of God will be required to pay tribute, customs, or tolls of any kind.’


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<pb/>“And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God’s laws to govern all the people in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it.


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Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.”</t>


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<pb/>Ezra Praises the Lord Praise the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who made the king want to beautify the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem!


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And praise him for demonstrating such unfailing love to me by honoring me before the king, his council, and all his mighty nobles! I felt encouraged because the gracious hand of the Lord my God was on me. And I gathered some of the leaders of Israel to return with me to Jerusalem.


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<pb/>Exiles Who Returned with Ezra Here is a list of the family leaders and the genealogies of those who came with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:


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<pb/>From the family of Phinehas: Gershom. From the family of Ithamar: Daniel. From the family of David: Hattush,


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Ezra’s Journey to Jerusalem I assembled the exiles at the Ahava Canal, and we camped there for three days while I went over the lists of the people and the priests who had arrived. I found that not one Levite had volunteered to come along.


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So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were leaders of the people. I also sent for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of discernment.


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I sent them to Iddo, the leader of the Levites at Casiphia, to ask him and his relatives and the Temple servants to send us ministers for the Temple of God at Jerusalem.


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<pb/>Since the gracious hand of our God was on us, they sent us a man named Sherebiah, along with eighteen of his sons and brothers. He was a very astute man and a descendant of Mahli, who was a descendant of Levi son of Israel.


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They also sent Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and twenty of his sons and brothers,


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and 220 Temple servants. The Temple servants were assistants to the Levites—a group of Temple workers first instituted by King David and his officials. They were all listed by name.


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<pb/>And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled.


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For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to accompany us and protect us from enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king, <t>“Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him.”</t>


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to be in charge of transporting the silver, the gold, the gold bowls, and the other items that the king, his council, his officials, and all the people of Israel had presented for the Temple of God.


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I weighed the treasure as I gave it to them and found the totals to be as follows: 24 tons of silver, 7,500 pounds of silver articles, 7,500 pounds of gold,


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20 gold bowls, equal in value to 1,000 gold coins, 2 fine articles of polished bronze, as precious as gold.


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And I said to these priests, <t>“You and these treasures have been set apart as holy to the Lord. This silver and gold is a voluntary offering to the Lord, the God of our ancestors.


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Guard these treasures well until you present them to the leading priests, the Levites, and the leaders of Israel, who will weigh them at the storerooms of the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem.”</t>


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<pb/>So the priests and the Levites accepted the task of transporting these treasures of silver and gold to the Temple of our God in Jerusalem.


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<pb/>We broke camp at the Ahava Canal on April 19 and started off to Jerusalem. And the gracious hand of our God protected us and saved us from enemies and bandits along the way.


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On the fourth day after our arrival, the silver, gold, and other valuables were weighed at the Temple of our God and entrusted to Meremoth son of Uriah the priest and to Eleazar son of Phinehas, along with Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui—both of whom were Levites.


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<pb/>Then the exiles who had come out of captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel. They presented twelve bulls for all the people of Israel, as well as ninety-six rams and seventy-seven male lambs. They also offered twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was given as a burnt offering to the Lord.


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The king’s decrees were delivered to his highest officers and the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, who then cooperated by supporting the people and the Temple of God.


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<pb/>Ezra’s Prayer concerning Intermarriage When these things had been done, the Jewish leaders came to me and said, “Many of the people of Israel, and even some of the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the other peoples living in the land. They have taken up the detestable practices of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.


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For the men of Israel have married women from these people and have taken them as wives for their sons. So the holy race has become polluted by these mixed marriages. Worse yet, the leaders and officials have led the way in this outrage.”</t>


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<pb/>When I heard this, I tore my cloak and my shirt, pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down utterly shocked.


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Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel came and sat with me because of this outrage committed by the returned exiles. And I sat there utterly appalled until the time of the evening sacrifice.


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<pb/>At the time of the sacrifice, I stood up from where I had sat in mourning with my clothes torn. I fell to my knees and lifted my hands to the Lord my God.


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I prayed, <t>“O my God, I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins are piled higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached to the heavens.


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From the days of our ancestors until now, we have been steeped in sin. That is why we and our kings and our priests have been at the mercy of the pagan kings of the land. We have been killed, captured, robbed, and disgraced, just as we are today.


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<pb/>“But now we have been given a brief moment of grace, for the Lord our God has allowed a few of us to survive as a remnant. He has given us security in this holy place. Our God has brightened our eyes and granted us some relief from our slavery.


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For we were slaves, but in his unfailing love our God did not abandon us in our slavery. Instead, he caused the kings of Persia to treat us favorably. He revived us so we could rebuild the Temple of our God and repair its ruins. He has given us a protective wall in Judah and Jerusalem.


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<pb/>“And now, O our God, what can we say after all of this? For once again we have abandoned your commands!


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Your servants the prophets warned us when they said, ‘The land you are entering to possess is totally defiled by the detestable practices of the people living there. From one end to the other, the land is filled with corruption.


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Don’t let your daughters marry their sons! Don’t take their daughters as wives for your sons. Don’t ever promote the peace and prosperity of those nations. If you follow these instructions, you will be strong and will enjoy the good things the land produces, and you will leave this prosperity to your children forever.’


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<pb/>“Now we are being punished because of our wickedness and our great guilt. But we have actually been punished far less than we deserve, for you, our God, have allowed some of us to survive as a remnant.


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But even so, we are again breaking your commands and intermarrying with people who do these detestable things. Won’t your anger be enough to destroy us, so that even this little remnant no longer survives?


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O Lord, God of Israel, you are just. We come before you in our guilt as nothing but an escaped remnant, though in such a condition none of us can stand in your presence.”</t>


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<pb/>The People Confess Their Sin While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and lying face down on the ground in front of the Temple of God, a very large crowd of people from Israel—men, women, and children—gathered and wept bitterly with him.


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Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, a descendant of Elam, said to Ezra, <t>“We have been unfaithful to our God, for we have married these pagan women of the land. But in spite of this there is hope for Israel.


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Let us now make a covenant with our God to divorce our pagan wives and to send them away with their children. We will follow the advice given by you and by the others who respect the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law of God.


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Get up, for it is your duty to tell us how to proceed in setting things straight. We are behind you, so be strong and take action.”</t>


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<pb/>So Ezra stood up and demanded that the leaders of the priests and the Levites and all the people of Israel swear that they would do as Shecaniah had said. And they all swore a solemn oath.


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Then Ezra left the front of the Temple of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. He spent the night there without eating or drinking anything. He was still in mourning because of the unfaithfulness of the returned exiles.


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<pb/>Then a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should come to Jerusalem.


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Those who failed to come within three days would, if the leaders and elders so decided, forfeit all their property and be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.


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<pb/>Within three days, all the people of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. This took place on December 19, and all the people were sitting in the square before the Temple of God. They were trembling both because of the seriousness of the matter and because it was raining.


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<pb/>Then Ezra the priest stood and said to them: “You have committed a terrible sin. By marrying pagan women, you have increased Israel’s guilt.


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So now confess your sin to the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do what he demands. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from these pagan women.”</t>


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<pb/>Then the whole assembly raised their voices and answered, “Yes, you are right; we must do as you say!”


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Then they added, <t>“This isn’t something that can be done in a day or two, for many of us are involved in this extremely sinful affair. And this is the rainy season, so we cannot stay out here much longer.


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Let our leaders act on behalf of us all. Let everyone who has a pagan wife come at a scheduled time, accompanied by the leaders and judges of his city, so that the fierce anger of our God concerning this affair may be turned away from us.”</t>


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<pb/>Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this course of action, and they were supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite.


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So this was the plan they followed. Ezra selected leaders to represent their families, designating each of the representatives by name. On December 29, the leaders sat down to investigate the matter.


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By March 27, the first day of the new year, they had finished dealing with all the men who had married pagan wives.


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Those Guilty of Intermarriage These are the priests who had married pagan wives: From the family of Jeshua son of Jehozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.


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They vowed to divorce their wives, and they each acknowledged their guilt by offering a ram as a guilt offering.


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<pb/>These are the Levites who were guilty: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.


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<pb/>This is the singer who was guilty: Eliashib. These are the gatekeepers who were guilty: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.


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<pb/>These are the other people of Israel who were guilty: From the family of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Hashabiah, and Benaiah.


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<pb/>From the family of Pahath-moab: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.


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<pb/>From the family of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.


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<pb/>These are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. Nehemiah’s Concern for Jerusalem In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was at the fortress of Susa.


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Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem.


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<pb/>They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”


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<pb/>When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.


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Then I said, <t>“O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands,


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listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned!


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We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.


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“Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations.


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But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’


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O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.”</t> In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer.


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<pb/>Nehemiah Goes to Jerusalem Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence.


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So the king asked me, <t>“Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.”</t> Then I was terrified,


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<pb/>but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”


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I replied, <t>“If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”</t>


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The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, <t>“How long will you be gone? When will you return?”</t> After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.


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I also said to the king, <t>“If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah.


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And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.”</t> And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.


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When I came to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, I delivered the king’s letters to them. The king, I should add, had sent along army officers and horsemen to protect me.


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But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel.


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I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding.


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After dark I went out through the Valley Gate, past the Jackal’s Well, and over to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned gates.


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Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but my donkey couldn’t get through the rubble.


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So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate.


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The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration.


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But now I said to them, <t>“You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!”</t>


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Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king. They replied at once, <t>“Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!”</t> So they began the good work.


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But when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard of our plan, they scoffed contemptuously. <t>“What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”</t> they asked.


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I replied, <t>“The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall. But you have no share, legal right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.”</t>


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<pb/>Rebuilding the Wall of Jerusalem Then Eliashib the high priest and the other priests started to rebuild at the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set up its doors, building the wall as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and the Tower of Hananel.


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<pb/>The Fish Gate was built by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid the beams, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars.


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Meremoth son of Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz repaired the next section of wall. Beside him were Meshullam son of Berekiah and grandson of Meshezabel, and then Zadok son of Baana.


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Next were the people from Tekoa, though their leaders refused to work with the construction supervisors.


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<pb/>The Old City Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid the beams, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars.


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Next to them were Melatiah from Gibeon, Jadon from Meronoth, people from Gibeon, and people from Mizpah, the headquarters of the governor of the province west of the Euphrates River.


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Next was Uzziel son of Harhaiah, a goldsmith by trade, who also worked on the wall. Beyond him was Hananiah, a manufacturer of perfumes. They left out a section of Jerusalem as they built the Broad Wall.


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Next Jedaiah son of Harumaph repaired the wall across from his own house, and next to him was Hattush son of Hashabneiah.


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Then came Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab, who repaired another section of the wall and the Tower of the Ovens.


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Shallum son of Hallohesh and his daughters repaired the next section. He was the leader of the other half of the district of Jerusalem.


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<pb/>The Valley Gate was repaired by the people from Zanoah, led by Hanun. They set up its doors and installed its bolts and bars. They also repaired the 1,500 feet of wall to the Dung Gate.


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<pb/>The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Recab, the leader of the Beth-hakkerem district. He rebuilt it, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars.


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<pb/>The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallum son of Col-hozeh, the leader of the Mizpah district. He rebuilt it, roofed it, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars. Then he repaired the wall of the pool of Siloam near the king’s garden, and he rebuilt the wall as far as the stairs that descend from the City of David.


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Next to him was Nehemiah son of Azbuk, the leader of half the district of Beth-zur. He rebuilt the wall from a place across from the tombs of David’s family as far as the water reservoir and the House of the Warriors.


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<pb/>Next to him, repairs were made by a group of Levites working under the supervision of Rehum son of Bani. Then came Hashabiah, the leader of half the district of Keilah, who supervised the building of the wall on behalf of his own district.


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Next down the line were his countrymen led by Binnui son of Henadad, the leader of the other half of the district of Keilah.


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Next to them, Ezer son of Jeshua, the leader of Mizpah, repaired another section of wall across from the ascent to the armory near the angle in the wall.


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Next to him was Baruch son of Zabbai, who zealously repaired an additional section from the angle to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.


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Meremoth son of Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz rebuilt another section of the wall extending from the door of Eliashib’s house to the end of the house.


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After them, Benjamin and Hasshub repaired the section across from their house, and Azariah son of Maaseiah and grandson of Ananiah repaired the section across from his house.


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Next was Binnui son of Henadad, who rebuilt another section of the wall from Azariah’s house to the angle and the corner.


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Palal son of Uzai carried on the work from a point opposite the angle and the tower that projects up from the king’s upper house beside the court of the guard. Next to him were Pedaiah son of Parosh,


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with the Temple servants living on the hill of Ophel, who repaired the wall as far as a point across from the Water Gate to the east and the projecting tower.


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Then came the people of Tekoa, who repaired another section across from the great projecting tower and over to the wall of Ophel.


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<pb/>Above the Horse Gate, the priests repaired the wall. Each one repaired the section immediately across from his own house.


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Next Zadok son of Immer also rebuilt the wall across from his own house, and beyond him was Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the gatekeeper of the East Gate.


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Next Hananiah son of Shelemiah and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section, while Meshullam son of Berekiah rebuilt the wall across from where he lived.


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Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the wall as far as the housing for the Temple servants and merchants, across from the Inspection Gate. Then he continued as far as the upper room at the corner.


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<pb/>Enemies Oppose the Rebuilding Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews,


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saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, <t>“What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?”</t>


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<pb/>Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”


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<pb/>Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land!


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Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders.”</t>


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<pb/>At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm.


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<pb/>But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious.


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Then the people of Judah began to complain, <t>“The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.”</t>


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<pb/>Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.”


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<pb/>The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!”


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<pb/>So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.


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Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, <t>“Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”</t>


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<pb/>When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall.


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But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah


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who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon.


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<pb/>Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall.


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When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!”</t>


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I also told everyone living outside the walls to stay in Jerusalem. That way they and their servants could help with guard duty at night and work during the day.


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During this time, none of us—not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me—ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.


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<pb/>Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed About this time some of the men and their wives raised a cry of protest against their fellow Jews.


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Others said, <t>“We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards, and homes to get food during the famine.”</t>


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We belong to the same family as those who are wealthy, and our children are just like theirs. Yet we must sell our children into slavery just to get enough money to live. We have already sold some of our daughters, and we are helpless to do anything about it, for our fields and vineyards are already mortgaged to others.”</t>


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After thinking it over, I spoke out against these nobles and officials. I told them, <t>“You are hurting your own relatives by charging interest when they borrow money!”</t> Then I called a public meeting to deal with the problem.


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At the meeting I said to them, <t>“We are doing all we can to redeem our Jewish relatives who have had to sell themselves to pagan foreigners, but you are selling them back into slavery again. How often must we redeem them?”</t> And they had nothing to say in their defense.


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<pb/>Then I pressed further, “What you are doing is not right! Should you not walk in the fear of our God in order to avoid being mocked by enemy nations?


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I myself, as well as my brothers and my workers, have been lending the people money and grain, but now let us stop this business of charging interest.


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You must restore their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes to them this very day. And repay the interest you charged when you lent them money, grain, new wine, and olive oil.”</t>


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<pb/>They replied, “We will give back everything and demand nothing more from the people. We will do as you say.” Then I called the priests and made the nobles and officials swear to do what they had promised.


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I shook out the folds of my robe and said, <t>“If you fail to keep your promise, may God shake you like this from your homes and from your property!”</t> The whole assembly responded, <t>“Amen,”</t> and they praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.


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<pb/>For the entire twelve years that I was governor of Judah—from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of the reign of King Artaxerxes—neither I nor my officials drew on our official food allowance.


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The former governors, in contrast, had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides forty pieces of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because I feared God, I did not act that way.


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I also devoted myself to working on the wall and refused to acquire any land. And I required all my servants to spend time working on the wall.


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<pb/>I asked for nothing, even though I regularly fed 150 Jewish officials at my table, besides all the visitors from other lands!


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The provisions I paid for each day included one ox, six choice sheep or goats, and a large number of poultry. And every ten days we needed a large supply of all kinds of wine. Yet I refused to claim the governor’s food allowance because the people already carried a heavy burden.


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<pb/>Continued Opposition to Rebuilding Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates.


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So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me,


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<pb/>so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”


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and this is what it said: <t>“There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king.


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He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’ <t>“You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.”</t>


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<pb/>They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.


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<pb/>Later I went to visit Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, “Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight.”


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<pb/>But I replied, “Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won’t do it!”


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I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.


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They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me.


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<pb/>Remember, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember Noadiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate me.


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The Builders Complete the Wall So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun.


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When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.


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<pb/>During those fifty-two days, many letters went back and forth between Tobiah and the nobles of Judah.


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For many in Judah had sworn allegiance to him because his father-in-law was Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan was married to the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah.


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They kept telling me about Tobiah’s good deeds, and then they told him everything I said. And Tobiah kept sending threatening letters to intimidate me.


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After the wall was finished and I had set up the doors in the gates, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed.


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I gave the responsibility of governing Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, for he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.


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I said to them, <t>“Do not leave the gates open during the hottest part of the day. And even while the gatekeepers are on duty, have them shut and bar the doors. Appoint the residents of Jerusalem to act as guards, everyone on a regular watch. Some will serve at sentry posts and some in front of their own homes.”</t>


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Nehemiah Registers the People At that time the city was large and spacious, but the population was small, and none of the houses had been rebuilt.


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So my God gave me the idea to call together all the nobles and leaders of the city, along with the ordinary citizens, for registration. I had found the genealogical record of those who had first returned to Judah. This is what was written there:


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<pb/>Here is the list of the Jewish exiles of the provinces who returned from their captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar had deported them to Babylon, but now they returned to Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah where they originally lived.


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Their leaders were Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. This is the number of the men of Israel who returned from exile:


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Some of the family leaders gave gifts for the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 gold coins, 50 gold basins, and 530 robes for the priests.


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The other leaders gave to the treasury a total of 20,000 gold coins and some 2,750 pounds of silver for the work.


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The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold coins, about 2,500 pounds of silver, and 67 robes for the priests.


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<pb/>So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Temple servants, and some of the common people settled near Jerusalem. The rest of the people returned to their own towns throughout Israel. Ezra Reads the Law In October, when the Israelites had settled in their towns,


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<pb/>8 all the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey.


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So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand.


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He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.


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<pb/>Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been made for the occasion. To his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. To his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.


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Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet.


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Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, <t>“Amen! Amen!”</t> as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.


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<pb/>The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—then instructed the people in the Law while everyone remained in their places.


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They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.


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<pb/>Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.


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And Nehemiah continued, <t>“Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”</t>


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<pb/>And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.”


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So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.


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<pb/>The Festival of Shelters On October 9 the family leaders of all the people, together with the priests and Levites, met with Ezra the scribe to go over the Law in greater detail.


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As they studied the Law, they discovered that the Lord had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should live in shelters during the festival to be held that month.


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He had said that a proclamation should be made throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, telling the people to go to the hills to get branches from olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees. They were to use these branches to make shelters in which they would live during the festival, as prescribed in the Law.


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<pb/>So the people went out and cut branches and used them to build shelters on the roofs of their houses, in their courtyards, in the courtyards of God’s Temple, or in the squares just inside the Water Gate and the Ephraim Gate.


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So everyone who had returned from captivity lived in these shelters during the festival, and they were all filled with great joy! The Israelites had not celebrated like this since the days of Joshua son of Nun.


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Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God on each of the seven days of the festival. Then on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, as was required by law.


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<pb/>The People Confess Their Sins On October 31 the people assembled again, and this time they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their heads.


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Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners as they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors.


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They remained standing in place for three hours while the Book of the Law of the Lord their God was read aloud to them. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord their God.


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The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani—stood on the stairway of the Levites and cried out to the Lord their God with loud voices.


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Then the leaders of the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—called out to the people: <t>“Stand up and praise the Lord your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!”</t> Then they prayed: <t>“May your glorious name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise!


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“You alone are the Lord. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.


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<pb/>“You are the Lord God, who chose Abram and brought him from Ur of the Chaldeans and renamed him Abraham.


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When he had proved himself faithful, you made a covenant with him to give him and his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. And you have done what you promised, for you are always true to your word.


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<pb/>“You saw the misery of our ancestors in Egypt, and you heard their cries from beside the Red Sea.


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You displayed miraculous signs and wonders against Pharaoh, his officials, and all his people, for you knew how arrogantly they were treating our ancestors. You have a glorious reputation that has never been forgotten.


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You divided the sea for your people so they could walk through on dry land! And then you hurled their enemies into the depths of the sea. They sank like stones beneath the mighty waters.


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You led our ancestors by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night so that they could find their way.


