eng_aiv Amundson Interpretive Version 2 Chronicles 2 Chronicles 2 Chronicles 2 Chr 2 Chronicles id=eng_aiv name=Amundson Interpretive Version (AIV) status=draft spec=USFM-USX 3.1.1 export=2026-11-02 char:add=translator-addition-italic char:wj=words-of-Jesus-as-received-unmapped note:f=footnotes para:r=parallel-passage-references para:d=psalm-superscriptions Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom (1 Kings 3:1–15; Psalm 45:1–17; Psalm 72:1–20) And Solomon son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and YHWH his God was with him and exceedingly exalted him. And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of the thousands and of the hundreds, and to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers. And they went—Solomon and all the assembly with him—to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the Tent of Meeting of God, which Moses the servant of YHWH had made in the wilderness. But the ark of God, David had brought up from Kiriath-jearim to where David had prepared for it, for he had pitched for it a tent at Jerusalem. And the bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur had made, was in Gibeon before the tabernacle of YHWH. And Solomon and the assembly sought Him. 1.5 LXX, Vulgate, and some Hebrew manuscripts was there before; MT he put before And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before YHWH that was at the Tent of Meeting, and he caused to ascend on it a thousand burnt offerings. On that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give to you.” And Solomon said to God, “You have shown to David my father great loving devotion1.8 Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant. and have made me king in his place. Now, O YHWH God, let Your promise to David my father be established. For You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. Now give to me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out before this people and come in.1.10 That is, so that I may lead this people For who can judge this great people of Yours?” And God said to Solomon, “Because that this was in your heart, and you have not requested riches, or wealth, or honor, or the life of your enemies, and even long life you have not requested—and you have requested for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may judge My people, whom I have made you king over them— the wisdom and the knowledge are granted to you, and riches and wealth and honor I will give to you, such as has not been so to the kings who were before you, and after you will not be thus.” And Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the Tent of Meeting, and he reigned over Israel. Solomon’s Riches (1 Kings 10:26–29) And Solomon gathered chariots and horses.1.14 Or horsemen or charioteers; twice in this verse And there were unto him a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horses, and he placed them in the cities of the chariots and with the king in Jerusalem. And the king made the silver and the gold in Jerusalem as common as stones, and the cedars he made as abundant as the sycamores that are in the Shephelah.1.15 Or foothills or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea And horses were imported that were unto Solomon from Egypt and from Kue;1.16 Probably an area in Cilicia, a province in the southeast of Asia Minor merchants of the king from Kue took them at a price. And they came up and brought out from Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver,1.17 600 shekels is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms of silver. and a horse for fifty and a hundred.1.17 150 shekels is approximately 3.8 pounds or 1.7 kilograms of silver. Thus to all the kings of the Hittite, and the kings of Aram, by their hand they brought them out. Preparations for the Temple (1 Kings 5:1–6) And Solomon said to build a temple for the Name of YHWH, and a house for his kingdom. And Solomon selected seventy thousand men as burden bearers, and eighty thousand men as hewers in the hill country, and three thousand and six hundred overseers over them. And Solomon sent to Huram2.3 Huram is a variant of Hiram; also in verses 11 and 12 king of Tyre, saying, “Do as you did with David my father, sending him cedars to build himself a house to dwell in it. Behold, I am building a house for the Name of YHWH my God to consecrate to Him, to burn before Him incense of spices, and for continual showbread, and for the burnt offerings at the morning and at the evening, on the Sabbaths, and on the New Moons, and at appointed seasons of YHWH our God. Forever this is upon Israel. And the temple that I am building will be great, for our God is greater than all the gods. And who can keep strength to build unto Him a temple, since the heavens and the heavens of the heavens cannot contain Him? And who am I that I should build unto Him a temple, for but to burn sacrifices before Him? And now send to me a skillful man to work in the gold, and in the silver, and in the bronze, and in the iron, and in the purple and crimson and blue, and who has skill in engraving engravings with the wise who are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father prepared. And send to me cedar trees, and cypress, and algums2.8 Or pine or juniper or fir from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut trees of Lebanon. And behold, my servants will be with your servants, 2.8 Algum is probably a variant of almug; see 1 Kings 10:11. to prepare for me trees in abundance, because the house that I am building is great and wonderful. And behold, to the wood cutters cutting the trees, to your servants, I will give ground wheat, twenty thousand cors, and barley, twenty thousand cors,2.10 20,000 cors is approximately 124,800 bushels or 4.4 million liters (probably about 3,800 tons or 3,400 metric tons of wheat). and wine, twenty thousand baths,2.10 20,000 cors is approximately 124,800 bushels or 4.4 million liters (probably about 2,910 tons or 2,700 metric tons of barley). and oil, twenty thousand baths.2.10 20,000 baths is approximately 116,000 gallons or 440,000 liters of wine.” 2.10 Or 20,000 baths of olive oil; that is, approximately 116,000 gallons or 440,000 liters Hiram’s Reply to Solomon (1 Kings 5:7–12) And Huram king of Tyre answered in writing, and he sent to Solomon: “In the love of YHWH to His people, He has set you as king over them.” And Huram said: “Blessed be YHWH, God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth, for He has given to David the king a wise son, endowed with prudence and understanding, who will build a temple for YHWH and a house for his kingdom. And I have sent a wise man, knowing with understanding,2.13 Or creativity Huram-abi, son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father a man of Tyre, skilled to work in the gold, and in the silver, in the bronze, in the iron, in the stones, and in the wood, in purple, and in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson, and to engrave any engraving, and to accomplish any device that may be given to him with your wise ones, and with wise ones of my lord David your father. And now the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, of which my lord has spoken, let him send to his servants. And we will cut trees from Lebanon, according to all your need, and we will bring it to you in rafts by sea to Joppa, and you will bring them up to Jerusalem.” And Solomon numbered all the men, the sojourners who were in the land of Israel, after the census in which David his father had numbered them. And they were found to be a hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred. And he made of them seventy thousand porters, and eighty thousand stonecutters in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to make the people work. Temple Construction Begins (1 Kings 6:1–4) And Solomon began to build the house of YHWH—at Jerusalem in the mount of Moriah where He had appeared to David his father—in the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan3.1 Ornan is a variant of Araunah; see 2 Samuel 24:16. the Jebusite. And he began to build in the second month, on the second, in the fourth year of his reign. And these Solomon founded for building the house of God: The length was, by cubits, according to the former measure,3.3 The old standard of measurement was a cubit equal to 18 inches or 45.7 centimeters. The new standard, a cubit of approximately 21 inches or 53.3 centimeters (the long cubit) is the basic unit of length throughout Ezekiel 40 to 48. sixty cubits, and the width twenty cubits.3.3 The foundation was approximately 90 feet long and 30 feet wide (27.4 meters long and 9.1 meters wide). And the portico that was in the front, the length on the front of the width of the house was twenty cubits,3.4 20 cubits is approximately 30 feet or 9.1 meters; also in verses 8, 11, and 13. and the height was twenty,3.4 Some LXX and Syriac manuscripts; Hebrew 120 (approximately 180 feet or 54.9 meters) and He overlaid the inside with pure gold. The Temple’s Interior (1 Kings 6:14–22) And the larger room he paneled with cypress,3.5 Or pine or juniper or fir and he overlaid it with fine gold, and he carved on it palm trees and chains. And he decorated the house with precious stones for beauty, and the gold was gold of Parvaim. And He overlaid the house, the beams, and the thresholds, and its walls, and its doors, with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls. And he made the Holy of Holies3.8 Or the Most Holy Place; also in verse 10 in the house, its length upon the front of the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and its width twenty cubits. And He overlaid it with six hundred talents of fine gold.3.8 600 talents is approximately 22.6 tons or 20.5 metric tons of gold. And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold,3.9 50 shekels is approximately 1.26 pounds or 569.8 grams of gold. and the upper area he overlaid with gold. The Cherubim (1 Kings 6:23–30) And he made in the Holy of Holies in the house two cherubim, fashioned work, and he overlaid them with gold, and the wings of the cherubim, their length twenty cubits, the wing of the one five cubits,3.11 5 cubits is approximately 7.5 feet or 2.3 meters; also in verse 15. touching the wall of the room, and the other wing five cubits, touching the wing of the other cherub. And the wing of the other cherub was five cubits, touching the wall of the room, and the other wing five cubits, adhering to the wing of the other cherub. The wings of these cherubim spanned overall twenty cubits, and they stood on their feet, and they faced inward. The Veil and Pillars (1 Kings 7:13–22) And he made the veil of blue and purple and crimson and fine linen, and he brought up cherubim into it. And he made at the front of the house two pillars, thirty-five cubits high,3.15 35 cubits is approximately 52.5 feet or 16 meters. and the capital that was on its head five cubits. And He made chains as in the inner sanctuary3.16 Or He made interwoven chains and put them on the head of the pillars, and he made a hundred pomegranates and put them on the chains. And he set up the pillars upon the face of the temple, one on the right hand and one on the left. And he called the name on the right hand Jachin,3.17 Jachin probably means He establishes. and the name on the left Boaz.3.17 Boaz probably means in Him is strength. The Bronze Altar and Molten Sea (1 Kings 7:23–26) And he made a bronze altar, twenty cubits its length, and twenty cubits its width, and ten cubits its height.4.1 The altar was approximately 30 feet in length and width and 15 feet high (9.1 meters in length and width and 4.6 meters high). And he made the molten Sea, ten by the cubit from one brim to the other, round in compass, and five cubits its height, and a line of thirty by the cubit surrounding it all around.4.2 The Sea was approximately 15 feet from rim to rim, 7.5 feet in height, and 45 feet in circumference (4.6 meters from rim to rim, 2.3 meters in height, and 13.7 meters in circumference). And the likeness of oxen was under it encompassing it all around, ten to a cubit, encircling around the Sea. In two rows the oxen were cast in its being cast. It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, and three facing west, and three facing south, and three facing east. And the sea was upon them, and all their hindquarters were inward. And its thickness was a handbreadth,4.5 A handbreadth is approximately 2.9 inches or 7.4 centimeters. and its lip as the work of the lip of a cup, a lily blossom, taking hold. It contained three thousand baths.4.5 3,000 baths is approximately 17,400 gallons or 66,000 liters. The Ten Basins, Lampstands, and Tables (1 Kings 7:38–39) And He made ten basins, and he put five on the right side and five on the left, to wash in them; the work of the burnt offering they would wash in them. And the Sea was for the priests to wash in. And he made ten lampstands of gold according to their ordinance and set them in the temple, five on the right and five on the left. And he made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the right and five on the left. And he made a hundred bowls of gold. The Courts And he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and the doors for the court, and their doors he overlaid with bronze. And the Sea he set on the right side eastward, over against the south. Completion of the Bronze Works (1 Kings 7:40–47) And Huram made the pots and the shovels and the sprinkling bowls. And Huram finished doing the work that he was to do for King Solomon in the house of God: The two pillars; and the bowls, and the capitals on top of the two pillars; and the two networks covering the two bowls of the capitals that were on top of the pillars; and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks (two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the face of the pillars); and also he made the carts; and he made the basins on the carts; the one Sea, and the twelve oxen under it; and the pots, and the shovels, and the forks, and all their articles. Huram-Abi made these for King Solomon for the house of YHWH of polished bronze. In the plain of the Jordan the king had cast them in the thick soil of the ground between Succoth and between Zeredah. 4.17 Zeredah is a variant of Zarethan; see 1 Kings 7:46. And Solomon had made all these articles in such great abundance that the weight of the bronze was not to be sought out. Completion of the Gold Furnishings (1 Kings 7:48–51) And Solomon made all the furnishings for the house of God: The altar of gold; and the tables, and on them the Bread of the Presence; and the lampstands, and their lamps to burn according to the ordinance in front of the inner sanctuary, of pure gold; and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold—it was the perfection of gold; and the trimmers, and the bowls, and the ladles, and the firepans, of refined gold; and the opening of the house, its inner doors to the Holy of Holies,4.22 Or the Most Holy Place and the doors of the main hall of the temple, of gold. The Ark Enters the Temple (1 Kings 8:1–11) And all the work that Solomon had done for the house of YHWH was finished. And Solomon brought in the holy things of David his father, and the silver, and the gold, and all the furnishings, and he put them in the treasuries of the house of God. At that time Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, chiefs of the fathers of the sons of Israel, in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of YHWH from the City of David; it is Zion. And assembled unto the king all the men of Israel at the feast;5.3 That is, the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths or Shelters); see Leviticus 23:33–36. it was the seventh month. And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark. And they brought up the ark, and the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle. The priests, the Levites, brought them up. And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him before the ark were sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted and not numbered for multitude. And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of YHWH to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the Holy of Holies,5.7 Or the Most Holy Place to beneath the wings of the cherubim. And the cherubim were spreading out wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered over the ark and its poles from above. And the poles extended, and the ends of the poles of the ark were seen from in front of the inner sanctuary;5.9 Some Hebrew manuscripts and LXX The poles extended far enough that their ends were visible from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary; see 1 Kings 8:8. they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day. Nothing was in the ark except the two tablets that Moses gave at Horeb,5.10 That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai when YHWH cut with the sons of Israel in their going out from Egypt. And it came to pass, in the going out of the priests from the sanctuary—for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves without keeping to their divisions, and the Levites (the singers, all those of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, with their sons and their brothers, clothed in white linen, having cymbals and stringed instruments and harps) stood on the east of the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests sounding with the trumpets— and it came to pass that the trumpeters and the singers were as one to sound one voice in praising and thanking YHWH. And they lifted up a voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised YHWH: “For good, even to forever, is His loving devotion.” And the house was filled with a cloud—the house of YHWH— and the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud, for the glory of YHWH had filled the house of God. Solomon Blesses Yahweh (1 Kings 8:12–21) Then Solomon said: “YHWH said He would dwell in the dark cloud. And I have surely built a house exalted unto You, and a place for Your dwelling forever.” And the king turned around his face, and he blessed all the assembly of Israel, and all the assembly of Israel was standing. And he said: “Blessed be YHWH, God of Israel, who has spoken with His mouth to David my father, and with His hands He has fulfilled it, saying, ‘Since the day that I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house for My name being there, and I have not chosen any man to be a ruler over My people Israel. And I have chosen Jerusalem for my name to be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’ And it was with the heart of David my father to build a temple for the Name of YHWH, God of Israel. And YHWH said to David my father, ‘Because that it was with your heart to build a house for My name, you did well in that it was with your heart. Nevertheless, you shall not build the temple; but your son who will come from your loins, he shall build the house for My Name.’ And YHWH has fulfilled His word that He spoke, and I have risen instead of David my father and sit on the throne of Israel, as YHWH spoke, and I have built the house for the name of YHWH, God of Israel. And I have put there the ark, in which there is the covenant of YHWH, which He cut with the sons of Israel.” Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication (1 Kings 8:22–53) And he stood before the face of the altar of YHWH in front of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. For Solomon had made a bronze platform and had set it in the midst of the court: Five cubits long, and five cubits wide, and three cubits high.6.13 The platform was approximately 7.5 feet in length and width, and 4.5 feet high (2.3 meters in length and width, and 1.4 meters high). And he stood on it, and he knelt down on his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and he spread out his hands toward the heavens, and he said: “O YHWH, God of Israel, there is not a god like You in the heavens or on the earth, who keeps the covenant of loving devotion with Your servants walking before You with all their heart, who has kept for Your servant David my father what You spoke to him. You have spoken with Your mouth and with Your hand you have fulfilled it, as this day. And now, O YHWH, God of Israel, keep for Your servant David my father what You spoke to him, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man before Me, to sit on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, to walk in My law, as you have walked before My face.’ And, O YHWH, God of Israel, confirm Your word that You have spoken to Your servant David. But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, the heavens, and the heavens of the heavens cannot contain You. How much less this house that I have built! And You have turned toward the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O YHWH my God, to listen to the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying before You. For may Your eyes be open toward this house day and night, toward the place where You have said to put Your name, that You may listen to the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. And may You listen to the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place, and may You hear from Your dwelling place, the heavens, and may You hear and forgive. If anyone sins against his neighbor, and it is lifted up upon him to take an oath to swear, and he comes in to swear before Your altar in this house, then may You hear from the heavens and act and judge Your servants, to give back to the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and to justify the righteous by giving to him according to his righteousness. And if Your people Israel are struck before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return and confess Your name, and they pray and make supplication before You in this house, then may You hear from the heavens and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land that You gave to them and to their fathers. When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and from their sin they turn back because You afflict them, then may You hear in the heavens and forgive the sin of Your servants and of Your people Israel, that You may direct them toward the good way that they should walk in it, and give rain on Your land that You have given to Your people as an inheritance. Famine, when it is in the land, or there is pestilence, blight or mildew, locust or grasshoppers, when it is that their enemies besiege them in their land—its gates—any plague and any sickness, any prayer, any supplication that is by any man, or by all Your people Israel, when they know, each one, his own burden and his own grief, and he spreads out his hands to this house, then may You hear from the heavens, the fixed place of Your dwelling, and forgive, and give to each man according to all his ways (since You know his heart, for You alone know the heart of the sons of men), that they may fear You to walk in Your ways all the days that they live on the face of the ground that You have given to our fathers. And also concerning the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, and he comes from a distant country for the sake of Your great name, and Your mighty hand, and Your outstretched arm, and they come and pray in this house, then may You hear from the heavens, the fixed place of Your dwelling, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, so that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, that they may know that Your name is called upon this house that I have built. When Your people go out to battle against their enemies in the way that You send them, and they pray to You toward this city that You have chosen and the house that I have built for Your name, then may You hear from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and may You maintain their cause. When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and their captors take them captive to a land distant or near, and they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive there, and they turn and make supplication to You in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, and have committed wickedness,’ and they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity where they have been carried captive, and they pray toward their land that You gave to their fathers, and the city that You have chosen, and toward the house that I have built for Your name, then may You hear from the heavens, the fixed place of Your dwelling, their prayer and their supplications, and may You maintain their cause and forgive Your people who have sinned against You. Now, my God, please, let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer in this place. And now arise, O YHWH God, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests, O YHWH God, be clothed with salvation, and let Your holy ones rejoice in the goodness. O YHWH God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed. Remember the loving devotion to David Your servant.” Fire from Heaven (Psalm 136:1–26) And Solomon had finished praying, and the fire came down from the heavens and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of YHWH filled the temple. And the priests were not able enter into the house of YHWH, because the glory of YHWH had filled the house of YHWH. And all the sons of Israel looked upon the descending of the fire and the glory of YHWH upon the temple, and they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and they worshiped and gave thanks to YHWH: “For He is good, truly forever is His loving devotion.” Sacrifices of Dedication (1 Kings 8:62–66) And the king and all the people offered sacrifices before YHWH. And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of the herd, twenty-two thousand, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. And the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. And the priests were standing over their charges, and the Levites with instruments of the song of YHWH that David the king had made to give thanks to YHWH: “For forever is His loving devotion,” of David praising by their hand, and the priests sounded trumpets opposite them, and all Israel was standing. And Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of YHWH, for he offered there the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the present, and the fat. And Solomon kept the feast7.8 That is, the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths or Shelters); see Leviticus 23:33–36. at that time seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the Brook of Egypt. And on the eighth day they made a solemn assembly, for the dedication of the altar they observed seven days, and the feast seven days. And on the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent away the people to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the good that YHWH had done to David, and to Solomon, and to Israel His people. Yahweh’s Response to Solomon (1 Kings 9:1–9) And Solomon finished the house of YHWH and the house of the king. And all that came into the heart of Solomon to do in the house of YHWH and in his own house, he accomplished. And YHWH appeared to Solomon by night and said to him, “I have heard your prayer, and I have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. If I shut up the heavens and there is no rain, or if I lay charge upon the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people upon whom My name is called will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from the heavens and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open, and My ears attentive, to the prayer in this place. For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there even to forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there all the days. And you, if you walk before Me as David your father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My ordinances, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I cut with David your father, saying, ‘There shall not be cut off to you a man to rule in Israel.’ And if you⁺ turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments that I have set before you⁺, and walk and serve other gods, and worship them, then I will uproot them from My land that I have given them, and this house that I have sanctified for My name, I will cast out from before My face, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all the peoples. And this house that is a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has YHWH done thus to this land and to this house?’ 7.21 Some LXX manuscripts, Syriac, and Arabic; Hebrew And though this house is now exalted; see also 1 Kings 9:8. And they will answer, ‘Because that they have forsaken YHWH, God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them, upon thus He has brought upon them all this evil.’” Solomon’s Additional Achievements (1 Kings 9:10–28) And it came to pass at the end of twenty years in which Solomon had built the house of YHWH and his own house, that the cities that Huram8.2 Huram is a variant of Hiram; also in verse 18 had given to Solomon, Solomon built them, and there he settled the sons of Israel. And Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and seized it. And He built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the storage cities that he built in Hamath. And He built Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars, and Baalath and all the storage cities that were unto Solomon, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen,8.6 Or horses and all the desire of Solomon that he desired to build in Jerusalem and in Lebanon and in all the land of his dominion. And all the people remaining of the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite (who they were not of Israel— of their sons who were left after them in the land, whom the sons of Israel did not destroy), Solomon lifted up as forced labor to this day. And Solomon did not make the sons of Israel servants for his work, for they were men of war, and captains of his officers, and captains of his chariots, and his cavalry. And these were chiefs of the officers who were of King Solomon, two hundred and fifty ruling over the people. And the daughter of Pharaoh Solomon brought up from the City of David to the house that he had built for her. For he said, “My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because they are holy to whom the ark of YHWH has come.” Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to YHWH on the altar of YHWH, which he had built before the face of the portico, by the matter of a day in its day, to cause to ascend according to the commandment of Moses for the Sabbaths, and the New Moons, and the appointed feasts three times yearly—in the Feast of the Unleavened,8.13 That is, the seven-day period after the Passover during which no leaven may be eaten; see Exodus 12:14–20. and in the Feast of Weeks,8.13 That is, Shavuot, the late spring feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; it is also known as the Feast of Harvest (see Exodus 23:16) or the Feast of Pentecost (see Acts 2:1). and in the Feast of Booths.8.13 That is, Sukkot, the autumn feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; also translated as the Feast of Tabernacles or the Feast of Shelters and originally called the Feast of Ingathering (see Exodus 23:16 and Exodus 34:22). And he appointed, according to the judgment of David his father, the divisions of the priests for their service, and the Levites for their duties, to praise and serve before the priests, according to the matter of a day in its day, and the gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate; for thus David had commanded the man of God. And they did not depart from the command of the king concerning the priests and the Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasuries. And all the work of Solomon was prepared from the day of the foundation of the house of YHWH, and until it was finished. And the house of YHWH was completed. Then Solomon went to Ezion-geber and to Eloth8.17 Eloth is a variant of Elath; see LXX, 2 Kings 14:22, and 2 Kings 16:6. on the lip of the sea in the land of Edom.8.17 That is, along the shore of the Red Sea in the land of Edom And Huram sent him by the hand of his servants ships, and servants who knew the sea, and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir and acquired from there four hundred and fifty talents of gold8.18 450 talents is approximately 17 tons or 15.4 metric tons of gold. and brought it to King Solomon. The Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1–13) And the queen of Sheba heard about the report of Solomon, and she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with difficult questions, with a very great company, and camels bearing spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones. And she came to Solomon, and she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. And Solomon declared to her all her questions, and not a thing was concealed from Solomon that he could not explain to her. And the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built, and the food of his table, and the seating of his servants, and the service of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and their apparel, and the burnt offerings that he presented9.4 LXX and Syriac (see also 1 Kings 10:5); Hebrew and his stairway by which he went up at the house of YHWH; and there was no breath in her anymore. And she said to the king, “True is the word that I heard in my land about your words9.5 Or your achievements and your wisdom. I did not believe their words until that I came and saw with my own eyes. And behold, it was not told to me the half of the greatness of your wisdom! You have added to the report that I heard. How blessed are your men! And How blessed are your servants, these who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom! YHWH your God be blessed, who delighted in you to set you on His throne as king for YHWH your God. Because your God has loved Israel to establish them forever, therefore He made you king over them to do justice and righteousness.” And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold,9.9 120 talents is approximately 4.52 tons or 4.1 metric tons of gold. and spices in great abundance, and precious stones. And there were no spices such as that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. (And the servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir brought algum9.10 Algum is probably a variant of almug; also in verse 11; see 1 Kings 10:11. wood and precious stones. And the king made the algum wood steps9.11 Or gateways or walkways for the house of YHWH, and for the house of the king, and lyres and harps for the singers; and nothing like these had been seen before in the land of Judah.) And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, apart from that which she had brought to the king. And she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants. Solomon’s Wealth and Splendor (1 Kings 10:14–29) And the weight of the gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold,9.13 666 talents is approximately 25.1 tons or 22.8 metric tons of gold. apart from what the men, the travelers, and the merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. And King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold (six hundred hammered shekels of gold9.15 600 shekels is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms of gold. went into one shield), and three hundred shields of hammered gold (three hundred shekels of gold9.16 300 shekels is approximately 7.5 pounds or 3.4 kilograms of gold. went into one shield). And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. And the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. And six steps were to the throne, and a footstool of gold, fastened to the throne, and hands on this side and on this on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the armrests. And twelve lions stood there on the six steps on this side and on this. Nothing thus had been made for any kingdom. And all the drinking vessels of King Solomon were gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon pure gold. Silver was not accounted for anything in the days of Solomon. For ships of the king went to Tarshish9.21 Or For the king had a fleet of trading ships with the servants of Huram;9.21 Huram is a variant of Hiram once in three years the ships of Tarshish9.21 Or the fleet of trading ships came bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.9.21 Or baboons And King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom that God had put in his heart. And they brought, each man, his present, articles of silver, and articles gold, and garments, armor and spices, horses and mules, a matter of year by year. And there were unto Solomon four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horses; and he stationed them in cities of the chariot and with the king at Jerusalem. 9.25 Or horsemen or charioteers And he reigned over all the kings from the River9.26 That is, the Euphrates even to the land of the Philistines, and as far as the border of Egypt. And the king made the silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees he made as abundant as the sycamores that are in the Shephelah.9.27 Or foothills or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea And they brought to Solomon horses from Egypt, and from all the lands. The Death of Solomon (1 Kings 11:41–43) And the rest of the acts of Solomon, the first and the last, are they not written in the Words of Nathan the Prophet, and in the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the Visions of Iddo the Seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat? And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. And Solomon rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place. Rebellion against Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:1–15) And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king. And it came to pass, when Jeroboam son of Nebat heard it—he was in Egypt, because he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king—that Jeroboam returned from Egypt. And they sent and called for him, and Jeroboam came, and all Israel, and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, “Your father hardened our yoke, and now lighten the severe service of your father and his heavy yoke that he put on us, and we will serve you.” And he said to them, “After three days come back to me.” And the people departed. And King Rehoboam counseled with the elders who had stood before Solomon his father in his being alive, saying, “How do you⁺ counsel to answer this people?” And they spoke to him, saying, “If you are kind to this people, and please them and speak to them good words, they will be to you servants all the days.” And he rejected the counsel of the elders who had counseled him, and he counseled with the young men who had grown up with him, those standing before him. And he said to them, “What do you⁺ counsel, and how should we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten from the yoke that your father gave to us’?” and the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to the people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made heavy our yoke, and you, make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than the loins of my father. And now, my father loaded on you⁺ a heavy yoke, and I will add to your⁺ yoke; my father chastised you⁺ with whips, and I with scorpions.’” And Jeroboam came, and all the people, to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had directed, saying, “Come back to me the third day.” And the king answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam rejected the counsel of the elders, and he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “Your⁺ yoke My father made heavy,10.14 LXX and many Hebrew manuscripts (see also 1 Kings 12:14); MT Whereas I made your yoke heavy and I will add to it; my father chastised you⁺ with whips, and I with scorpions.” And the king did not listen to the people, for the turning was from God, that YHWH might fulfill His word that He had spoken by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat. The Kingdom Divided (1 Kings 12:16–19) And all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, and the people answered the king,10.16 Syriac, Vulgate, and many Hebrew manuscripts When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king. saying, “What portion is to us in David? And we have no inheritance in a son of Jesse; every man to your tents, O Israel; look now to your own house, O David.” And all Israel departed to their tents. And the sons of Israel dwelt in the cities of Judah, and Rehoboam reigned over them. And King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the forced labor, and the sons of Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. And King Rehoboam mounted in haste into a chariot to flee to Jerusalem. 10.18 Hadoram is a variant of Adoram and Adoniram; see 2 Samuel 20:24 and 1 Kings 4:6. And Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. Shemaiah’s Prophecy (1 Kings 12:20–24) And Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, and he assembled from the house of Judah and Benjamin a hundred and eighty thousand chosen to make war, to fight against Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. And the word of YHWH came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, “Speak to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, thus says YHWH: ‘You⁺ shall not go up and you⁺ shall not fight against your⁺ brothers; let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.’” And they heard the words of YHWH and turned back from going against Jeroboam. Rehoboam Fortifies Judah And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and he built cities for fortification in Judah. And he built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, and Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam, and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah, and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, the fortified cities. And he strengthened the fortifications and put in them captains, and stores of food, and oil, and wine, and in each city by city, shields and spears, and he strengthened them exceedingly greatly, and Judah and Benjamin were unto him. Jeroboam Forsakes the Priests and Levites And the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel took their stand with him from all their territories. For the Levites left their pasturelands and their possession, and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them from serving as priests to YHWH. And he appointed for himself priests for the high places, and for the goat demons, and for the calf idols that he had made. And after them, those from all the tribes of Israel who had set their heart to seek YHWH, God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to YHWH, God of their fathers. And they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and they made strong Rehoboam son of Solomon three years, because they walked in the way of David and Solomon three years. Rehoboam’s Family And Rehoboam took for himself as wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth son of David and of Abihail daughter of Eliab son of Jesse. And she bore to him sons: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham. And after her he took Maacah the granddaughter of Absalom, and she bore to him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. And Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines. For he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he begat twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. And Rehoboam appointed as chief Abijah son of Maacah for leader among his brothers, in order to make him king. And He dealt wisely, and he scattered all his sons throughout all the territories of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city, and he gave to them provisions in abundance and sought for them many wives. Shishak Raids Jerusalem (1 Kings 14:25–28) And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of YHWH, and all Israel12.1 That is, Judah; in 2 Chronicles, Judah is occasionally called Israel, as representative of the true Israel. with him. And it came to pass in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem—because they had transgressed against YHWH— with a thousand and two hundred chariots, and sixty thousand horsemen,12.3 Or charioteers and people without number who came with him out of Egypt: Libyans and Sukkites and Cushites.12.3 That is, people from the upper Nile region And he took the fortified cities that were unto Judah, and he came to Jerusalem. And Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who were gathered together in Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he said to them, “Thus says YHWH, ‘You⁺ have forsaken Me; and also I have abandoned you⁺ all into the hand of Shishak.’” And the leaders of Israel humbled themselves—and the king—and they said, “Righteous is YHWH.” And when YHWH saw that they had humbled themselves, the word of YHWH came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them, and I will give to them a little thing for escape, and My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. Nevertheless, they will be servants to him, and they will know My service and the service of the kingdoms of the nations. And Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and he took away the treasures of the house of YHWH and the treasures of the house of the king. He took everything, and he took the gold shields that Solomon had made. And King Rehoboam made in their place bronze shields, and he committed them over to the hands of the captains of the guards who guarded the doorway of the house of the king. And whenever the king entered the house of YHWH, the guard would go and bring them out; and they would take them back into the chamber of the runners. And he humbled himself, and the wrath of YHWH turned from him as not to destroy him completely; and also in Judah there were good things. Rehoboam’s Reign and Death (1 Kings 14:21–24) And King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and he reigned. For Rehoboam was a son of forty-one years in his reigning, and seventeen years he reigned in Jerusalem, the city that YHWH had chosen to put His name there out of all the tribes of Israel. And the name of his mother was Naamah the Ammonitess. And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek YHWH. And the acts of Rehoboam, the first and the last, are they not written in the Words of Shemaiah the Prophet and of Iddo the Seer concerning the genealogies? And the wars of Rehoboam and Jeroboam were all their days. And Rehoboam rested with his fathers, and he was buried in the City of David. And Abijah his son reigned in his place. 12.16 Abijah is a variant of Abijam; see 1 Kings 14:31. Abijah Reigns in Judah (1 Kings 15:1–8) In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah13.1 Abijah is a variant of Abijam; see 1 Kings 14:31. became king over Judah. Three years he reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother was Micaiah13.2 Hebrew; most LXX manuscripts and Syriac Maacah; see 2 Chronicles 11:20 and 1 Kings 15:2. daughter13.2 Or granddaughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and between Jeroboam. And Abijah directed the battle with an army of mighty men of war, four hundred thousand choice men, and Jeroboam drew up against him in battle with eight hundred thousand choice men, mighty men of valor. Civil War against Jeroboam And Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and he said, “Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel; is it not for you⁺ to know that YHWH, God of Israel, gave the dominion to David over Israel forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt?13.5 That is, a perpetual covenant And rose up Jeroboam son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon son of David, and he rebelled against his lord. And vain men gathered to him, sons of worthlessness, and they strenghtened themselves against Rehoboam son of Solomon. And Rehoboam was young and tender of heart, and he could not strengthen himself against them. And you⁺ are saying to strengthen yourselves before the face of the kingdom of YHWH in the hand of the sons of David, and you⁺ are a great multitude, and with you⁺ are the gold calves that Jeroboam made for you⁺ as gods. Have you⁺ not cast out the priests of YHWH, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests like the peoples of the lands? Everyone comes to consecrate himself with a bull, a son of the herd, and seven rams, and he will be a priest of what are not gods. And as for us, YHWH is our God, and we have not forsaken Him and the priests who minister to YHWH, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, in the work. And they burn to YHWH burnt offerings morning by morning and evening by evening, and incense of spices, and the arrangement of bread on the pure gold table, and the lampstand of gold, and its lamps, to burn evening by evening. For we are keeping the charge of YHWH our God, and you⁺ have forsaken Him. And behold, with us at head is God, and His priests, and trumpets sounding to shout against you⁺. O sons of Israel, do not fight against YHWH, God of your⁺ fathers, for you shall⁺ not prosper.” And Jeroboam brought around the ambush to come in behind them, and they were before the face of Judah, and the ambush behind them. And Judah turned, and behold, the battle was before their faces and behind, and they cried out to YHWH, and the priests sounded the trumpets. And the men of Judah gave a shout, and it came to pass as the men of Judah shouted, that God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. And the sons of Israel fled before the face of Judah, and God delivered them into their hands. And Abijah and his people struck them with a great slaughter, and they fell slain from Israel five hundred thousand choice men. And the sons of Israel were subdued at that time, and the sons of Judah prevailed because they relied on YHWH, God of their fathers. And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and he took from him cities: Bethel and its villages, and Jeshanah and its villages, and Ephron and its villages. And Jeroboam did not recover power again in the days of Abijah; and YHWH struck him and he died. And Abijah strengthened himself, and he took to himself fourteen wives, and he begat twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his words, are written in the Treatise13.22 Or Exposition or Study of the Prophet Iddo. Asa Reigns in Judah (1 Kings 15:9–15) And Abijah rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. And Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet ten years. And Asa did the good and the right in the eyes of YHWH his God, and he turned aside the altars of the stranger and the high places, and he broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherah poles, and He commanded Judah to seek YHWH, God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. And He removed from all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars; and the kingdom was quiet under him. And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest, and there was not war with him in these years, because YHWH had given rest to him. And he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and make around them walls and towers, doors and bars, while the land is before our face, because we have sought YHWH our God. We have sought Him and He has given us rest on every side.” And they built and prospered. And there was unto Asa a force bearing shields and spears: From Judah three hundred thousand, and from Benjamin, men who carried shields and drew bows, two hundred and eighty thousand. All these were mighty men of valor. And came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a thousand thousands,14.9 Or an army of thousands and thousands and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah. And Asa went out against him for battle, and they arrayed in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.14.10 Or the valley north of Mareshah And Asa cried out to YHWH his God and said, “O YHWH, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with no power. Help us, O YHWH our God, for on You we rest, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O YHWH, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You.” And YHWH struck the Cushites before Asa, and before Judah, and the Cushites fled. And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as to Gerar, and there fell the Cushites, and there was no preservation for them, for they were broken before YHWH and His army. And they carried away exceedingly much plunder. And they defeated all the cities around Gerar, for the dread of YHWH came upon them, and they plundered all the cities. For there was much spoil in them. And also they struck the tents of the livestock, and they carried off sheep in abundance, and camels, and they returned to Jerusalem. The Prophecy of Azariah And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. And he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. YHWH is with you⁺ in your⁺ being with Him, and if you⁺ seek Him, He will be found by you⁺. But if you⁺ forsake Him, He will forsake you⁺. And many days were to Israel without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. And they turned in their distress to YHWH, God of Israel, and they sought Him, and He was found by them. And in those times there was no peace for one going out, and for one coming in, but great turmoil was upon all those dwelling in the lands. And they were beaten down nation by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every distress. And you⁺, be strong and do not let your⁺ hands be feeble, for there is reward for your⁺ work.” Asa’s Reforms (1 Kings 15:9–15) And Asa, hearing these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded15.8 Vulgate and Syriac (see also verse 1 and LXX); Hebrew does not include Azariah son of. the prophet, strengthened himself and removed the abominations from all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and from the cities that he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim, and he restored the altar of YHWH that was before the face of the portico of YHWH. And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those who dwelt with them from Ephraim and Manasseh and Simeon, for they fell on him from Israel in great numbers when they saw that YHWH his God was with him. And they gathered together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. And they offered to YHWH at that time from the plunder they had brought—seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. And they entered into a covenant to seek YHWH, God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul. And whoever would not seek YHWH, God of Israel, was to be put to death, from small and to great, from man and to woman. And they took an oath to YHWH in a loud voice, and with shouting and trumpets and shofars. And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart, and with all their soul they had sought Him, and He was found by them. And YHWH gave rest to them all around. And Maacah mother15.16 Or grandmother of Asa the king—he removed her as queen mother because she had made a detestable thing to Asherah. And Asa cut down her detestable thing, and he crushed it and burned it in the Kidron Valley. And the high places were not removed from Israel. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. And he brought the holy things of his father, and his holy things, into the house of God: Silver and gold and vessels. And there was no war until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa. War between Asa and Baasha (1 Kings 15:16–22) In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and he fortified Ramah, so as to allow none to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. And Asa brought silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of YHWH and the house of the king, and he sent it to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who dwelt in Damascus, saying, “A covenant16.3 Or a treaty; twice in this verse. is between me and between you, and between my father and between your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.” And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa, and he sent the captains of the forces who were unto him against the cities of Israel. And they attacked Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim,16.4 Abel-maim was also known as Abel-beth-maacah; see 1 Kings 15:20. and all the storage cities of Naphtali. And it came to pass, at Baasha hearing, that he stopped building Ramah, and His work ceased. And Asa the king took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timbers with which Baasha had built. And he built with them Geba and Mizpah. Hanani’s Message to Asa And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because of your leaning on the king of Aram and not leaning on YHWH your God, upon thus the force of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Was it not that the Cushites16.8 That is, people from the upper Nile region and the Libyans were as an army of multitudes, of very many chariots and horsemen? And in your leaning on YHWH, He delivered them into your hand. For YHWH—His eyes go to and fro in all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect to Him. You have acted foolishly regarding this; therefore from now on there will be wars with you.” And Asa was angry with the seer, and he put him in the house of the stocks, for he was in a rage at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time. The Death and Burial of Asa And behold, the acts of Asa, the first and the last, indeed are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. And Asa became diseased in his feet in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, until his disease was severe, yet in his disease he did not seek YHWH, but among the healers. And Asa rested with his fathers, and he died in the forty-first year of his reign. And they buried him in his own tomb, which he had made for himself in the City of David, and they laid him in the bed that was filled with spices and diverse kinds of mixtures in ointments with perfumed work; and they made for him a very exceedingly great burning. Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah (1 Kings 15:23–24) And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and he strengthened himself against Israel. And he put troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and he put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that Asa his father had captured. And YHWH was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways17.3 Or in his early years he walked in the ways of David his father. He did not seek the Baals, but the God of his father he sought, and in His commandments he walked, and not according to the acts of Israel. And YHWH established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah gave tribute to Jehoshaphat, and were unto him riches and honor in abundance. And his heart was lifted up17.6 Or took delight in the ways of YHWH, and moreover he turned aside the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah. And in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders Ben-hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah, and with them the Levites—Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, the Levites—and with them Elishama and Jehoram the priests. And they taught in Judah, and with them was the Book of the Law of YHWH, and they went around in all the cities of Judah, and they taught the people. And the dread of YHWH fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they did not fight against Jehoshaphat. And some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought to him from the flock seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred male goats. And Jehoshaphat went on even to increasingly becoming great, and he built in Judah fortresses and storage cities. And was unto him much property in the cities of Judah, and the men of war, mighty men of valor, were in Jerusalem. And these are their numbers according to the houses of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him mighty men of valor, three hundred thousand. And next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand. And next to him Amasiah son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to YHWH, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. And of Benjamin: A mighty man of valor, Eliada, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield. And next to him Jehozabad, and with him a hundred and eighty thousand equipped for war. These served the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah. Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab (1 Kings 22:1–12) And unto Jehoshaphat were riches and honor in abundance, and he became son-in-law to Ahab. And he went down after some years to Ahab in Samaria, and Ahab killed for him sheep and oxen in abundance, and for the people who were with him, and he incited him to go up to Ramoth-gilead. And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And he answered him, “I am as you are, and as your people are my people, and with you in the war.” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire, please, this day for the word of YHWH.” And the king of Israel gathered together the prophets, four hundred men, and he said to them, “Shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to war, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will deliver it into the hand of the king.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Is not here a prophet of YHWH still, that we may inquire of Him?” And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man to inquire of YHWH by, and I hate him because he prophesies concerning me not good, but always evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” And Jehoshaphat said, “The king should not say thus.” And the king of Israel called to one officer, and he said, “Hasten Micaiah son of Imlah.” And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat, each man upon his throne, clothed with garments, and they sat at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them. And Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made for himself horns of iron, and he said, “Thus says YHWH: ‘With these you shall gore Aram until they are finished.’” And all the prophets prophesied thus, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for YHWH will deliver it into the hand of the king.” Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab (1 Kings 22:13–28) And the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one mouth are good unto the king; and please, let your word be like one of them, and speak good.” And Micaiah said, “As YHWH lives, surely that which my God says, that I will speak.” And he came to the king, and the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to the war, or shall I refrain?” And he said, “Go and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your⁺ hands.” And the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you will speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of YHWH?” And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains as sheep that without a shepherd unto them. And YHWH said, ‘No masters are unto these; let each man return to his house in peace.’” And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did not I say to you that he would not prophesy concerning me good, but only evil?” And he said, “Therefore hear the word of YHWH: I saw YHWH sitting on His throne, and all the host of the heavens standing on His right and His left. And YHWH said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab king of Israel to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And this one spoke saying thus, and this one saying thus. And came forward a spirit, and stood before YHWH and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ And YHWH said to him, ‘With what?’ And he said, ‘I will go out and be a spirit of falsehood in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And He said, ‘You shall persuade and also you shall prevail; go out and do so.’ And behold, YHWH has put a spirit of falsehood in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and YHWH has declared disaster against you.” And Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went near, and he struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “Where is this—the way the Spirit of YHWH passed over from me to speak with you?” And Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day, when you go into an inner chamber to hide.” And the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash son of the king, and say, ‘Thus says the king: Put this one in the house of restraint, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I return in peace.’” And Micaiah said, “If you ever return in peace, YHWH has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, O peoples, all of them!” Ahab’s Defeat and Death (1 Kings 22:29–40) And the king of Israel went up—and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah—to Ramoth-gilead. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into the battle, and you put on your garments.” And the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into the battle. And the king of Aram had commanded the captains of the chariots who were with him, saying, “Do not fight with the small or with the great, except but with the king of Israel only.” And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, “It is the king of Israel.” And they turned against him to fight, and Jehoshaphat cried out, and YHWH helped him. And God diverted them from him. And it came to pass when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from after him. And a certain man drew with the bow in his simplicity, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints and between his armor. And he said to the charioteer, “Turn your hand18.33 Or Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded.” And the battle increased that day, and the king of Israel was propped up in the chariot over against Aram until the evening, and he died at the time of the going in of the sun. Jehoshaphat Reproved by Jehu And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned safely to his house in Jerusalem. And Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and he said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you be giving help to the wicked, and those hating YHWH would you love? And for this, wrath is upon you from before the face of YHWH. But good things are found in you, in that you have removed the Asherah poles from the land, and you have established your heart to seek God.” Jehoshaphat’s Reforms And Jehoshaphat dwelt in Jerusalem. And he turned back and went out among the people from Beersheba to the mountains of Ephraim, and he brought them back to YHWH, God of their fathers. And he set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, and he said to the judges, “See to what you⁺ are doing, for not for man do you⁺ judge, but for YHWH, who is with you⁺ in the matter of judgment. And now let the dread of YHWH be upon you⁺; take care and do it, for not with YHWH our God are iniquity and lifting up of faces and taking of a bribe.” And also in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed from the Levites, and the priests, and from the heads of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of YHWH and for controversies; and they returned to Jerusalem. And he commanded them, saying, “Thus you⁺ shall do in the fear of YHWH, in faithfulness, and with a perfect heart. And any case that comes to you⁺ from your⁺ brothers who dwell in their cities, whether of bloodshed or offenses against law or commandment, against statutes or ordinances, you⁺ shall warn them, lest they trespass against YHWH and wrath come upon you⁺ and your⁺ brothers. Thus do, and you⁺ will not be guilty. And behold, Amariah is the chief priest over you⁺ in all matters of YHWH, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all matters of the king. And the Levites are officials before you⁺. Be strong and act, and YHWH will be with the good one.” War against Jehoshaphat And it came to pass after this, that the sons of Moab came, and the sons of Ammon, and with them some Meunites,20.1 Some LXX manuscripts (see also 2 Chronicles 26:7); Hebrew together with some other Ammonites or together with some besides the Ammonites against Jehoshaphat to the battle. And they came in and declared to Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude from beyond the sea20.2 That is, the Dead Sea is coming against you from Edom,20.2 One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Vulgate from Aram and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi). And Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek YHWH, and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered together to inquire of YHWH; even from all the cities of Judah they came to seek YHWH. Jehoshaphat’s Prayer And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of YHWH, before the new court, and he said, “O YHWH, God of our fathers, are You not He, the God in the heavens? And You are ruling over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand are power and might, and there is no one to stand against You. Are not You our God, who drove out those dwelling in this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the seed of Abraham Your friend forever? And they dwell in it and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us, sword, judgment,20.9 Or the sword of judgment or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for Your Name is in this house—and we will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear and save.’ And behold the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You would not give to Israel to enter against them when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and they did not destroy them. And behold, they are recompensing to us by coming to throw us out of Your possession, which You have given us to inherit. Our God, will You not bring judgment against them? For there is no power in us before the face of this great multitude that is coming against us, and we do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” And all Judah stood before YHWH with their little ones, their wives, and their sons. The Prophecy of Jahaziel And upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, the Spirit of YHWH came in the midst of the assembly, and he said, “Listen, all Judah and dwellers of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! Thus says YHWH to you⁺: ‘You⁺ are not to be afraid and not dismayed before this great multitude, for the battle is not unto you⁺, but unto God. Tomorrow go down against them. Surely they will come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you⁺ will find them at the end of the valley, before the face of the Wilderness of Jeruel. It is not for you⁺ to fight in this. Station yourselves, stand firm, and see the salvation of YHWH who is with you⁺, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for YHWH is with you⁺.’” And Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the earth, and all Judah and those dwelling in Jerusalem fell down before the face of YHWH, to bow down to YHWH. And the Levites from the sons of the Kohathites and from of the sons of the Korahites rose to praise YHWH, God of Israel, in a loud voice on high. The Enemies Destroy Themselves And they rose early in the morning, and they went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa. And as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah, and you dwellers of Jerusalem. Believe in YHWH your⁺ God and be steadfast; remain steadfast in His prophets, and you shall prosper. And he took counsel with the people and appointed singers to YHWH, and those giving praise to the splendor of holiness, in the going out before the army, and they were saying: “Give thanks to YHWH, for forever is His loving devotion.” And as they began to sing and to praise, YHWH set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, and they were struck down. And the sons of Ammon stood up—and Moab—against those dwelling in Mount Seir, to devote to destruction20.23 Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to YHWH, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering. and to destroy, and at their finishing with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped, a man against his neighbor for destruction. And Judah came to the watchtower in the wilderness, and they looked toward the multitude, and behold, their corpses were fallen on the earth, and no one had escaped. And Jehoshaphat came, and his people, to take away the spoils, and they found among them an abundance of goods, and corpses, and precious articles,20.25 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate and they found among them an abundance of goods and clothing and valuables and they took for themselves more than they could carry away. And they were three days gathering the spoil, because it was so much. The Joyful Return And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah,20.26 Beracah means blessing. for there they blessed YHWH. Upon thus was called the name of that place the Valley of Berachah to this day. And they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for YHWH had made them rejoice over their enemies. And they came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets to the house of YHWH. And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the lands in their hearing that YHWH had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave rest to him all around. Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign (1 Kings 22:41–50) And Jehoshaphat was king over Judah, a son of thirty-five years in his reigning, and twenty-five years he reigned in Jerusalem. And the name of His mother was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in the way of his father Asa and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the eyes of YHWH. Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away, and still the people did not establish their hearts to the God of their fathers. And the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, the first and the last, indeed they are written in the records of Jehu son of Hanani, which is taken up in the Book of the Kings of Israel. Jehoshaphat’s Fleet Is Wrecked And after this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel; he acted wickedly in so doing.20.35 Or king of Israel, who made him act wickedly or king of Israel, by whom he acted wickedly And he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish,20.36 Or a fleet of trading ships and they made the ships in Ezion-geber. And Eliezer son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “For your joining yourself with Ahaziah, YHWH has destroyed your works.” And the ships were wrecked, and they were not able to go to Tarshish.20.37 Or set sail to trade Jehoram Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 8:16–19) And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his place. And unto him were brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah. All these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.21.2 That is, Judah; in 2 Chronicles, Judah is occasionally called Israel, as representative of the true Israel. And their father gave to them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah. And the kingdom he gave to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn. And Jehoram rose over the kingdom of his father, and he strengthened himself and killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of Israel. Jehoram was a son of thirty-two years in his reigning, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as had done the house of Ahab. For a daughter of Ahab was unto him as a wife, and he did evil in the eyes of YHWH. And YHWH was not willing destroy the house of David, on account of the covenant that He had cut with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons all the days. Edom and Libnah Rebel (2 Kings 8:20–24) In his days Edom rebelled against the hand of Judah, and they caused a king to reign over themselves. And Jehoram went out with his officers, and all the chariots with him, and he rose by night and struck21.9 Or he went out and escaped the Edomites who were coming around against him, and the captains of the chariots. And Edom has been in rebellion against the hand of Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at that time against his rule, because he had forsaken YHWH, God of his fathers. Moreover, he made high places in the hill country of Judah, and he caused those dwelling in Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, and he drove away Judah. Elijah’s Letter to Jehoram And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying: “Thus says YHWH, God of David your father: ‘Because that you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father and in the ways of Asa king of Judah, and you have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have caused Judah and those dwelling in Jerusalem to prostitute themselves like the prostitution of the house of Ahab—and also your brothers, the house of your father, who are better than you, you have killed— behold, YHWH will strike with a great affliction your people, and your children, and your wives, and all your possessions, and you, with many sicknesses, with disease of your bowels, until your intestines come out by reason of the sickness, days upon days.’” Jehoram’s Disease and Death And YHWH stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and of the Arabs who were upon the hand of the Cushites, and they came up into Judah and invaded it and carried away all the possessions that were found in the house of the king, and also his sons and his wives, so that there was not left to him a son except but Jehoahaz21.17 Jehoahaz is a variant of Ahaziah; see 2 Chronicles 22:1. the youngest of his sons. And after all this, YHWH struck him in his intestines with a disease of no healing. And it came to pass, from days to days, and at the time of the going out of the end of two years, that his intestines came out because of his sickness, and he died of evil diseases. And his people did not make for him a burning like the burning for his fathers. He was a son of thirty-two in his reigning, and eight years he reigned in Jerusalem, and he departed without desire, and they buried him in the City of David and not in the tombs of the kings. Ahaziah Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 8:25–29) And those dwelling in Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his place, for all the older sons had been killed by the raiders who came in with the Arabs to the camp.22.1 Or by the marauding bands of Arabs And Ahaziah son of Joram king of Judah reigned. Ahaziah was a son of twenty and two22.2 Some LXX manuscripts and Syriac (see also 2 Kings 8:26); Hebrew forty-two years in his reigning, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And the name of His mother was Athaliah daughter of Omri. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in acting wickedly. And he did evil in the eyes of YHWH, like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, for destruction to him. Also in their counsel he walked, and he went with Jehoram son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. And the Aramaeans22.5 Some LXX manuscripts the archers wounded Jehoram.22.5 Jehoram is a variant of Joram; also in verses 6 and 7 And he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds that he had received at Ramah22.6 Ramah is a variant of Ramoth; see verse 5. when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. And Ahaziah22.6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac (see also 2 Kings 8:29); most Hebrew manuscripts Azariah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick. And from God was the downfall of Ahaziah for his coming to Joram. And when he came, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu son22.7 Or grandson; see 2 Kings 9:14. of Nimshi, whom YHWH had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. Jehu Kills the Princes of Judah (2 Kings 9:14–29) And it came to pass, in Jehu executing judgment on the house of Ahab, that he found the princes of Judah and the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah who served Ahaziah, and he killed them. And he searched for Ahaziah, and they caught him, and he was hiding in Samaria. And they brought him to Jehu, and they killed him and buried him, for they said, “He is son of Jehoshaphat, who sought YHWH with all his heart.” And there was no one from the house of Ahaziah to retain power over the kingdom. Athaliah and Joash (2 Kings 11:1–3) And Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, and she arose and destroyed all the seed of the kingdom of the house of Judah. And Jehoshabeath the daughter of the king took Joash son of Ahaziah, and she stole him away from the midst of the sons of the king who were being killed, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. And Jehoshabeath the daughter of King Joram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest—for she was the sister of Ahaziah—hid him from the face of Athaliah, so that she did not kill him. 22.11 Jehoshabeath is a variant of Jehosheba; twice in this verse; see 2 Kings 11:2. And he was with them in the house of God hiding six years, and Athaliah reigned over the land. Joash Anointed King of Judah (2 Kings 11:4–12) And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and he took the captains of the hundreds—Azariah son of Jeroham, and Ishmael son of Jehohanan, and Azariah son of Obed, and Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri—with him into the covenant. And they went throughout Judah, and they gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the chief fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. And all the assembly cut a covenant in the house of God with the king. And he said to them, “Behold, the son of the king shall reign, as YHWH has said concerning the sons of David. This is the thing that you⁺ shall do: A third of you⁺ entering on the Sabbath of the priests and the Levites shall be gatekeepers of the thresholds, and a third at the house of the king, and a third at the Gate of the Foundation, and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of YHWH. And let none come into the house of YHWH, except for the priests and those who serve from the Levites; they may go in, for they are holy. And all the people must keep the charge of YHWH. And the Levites shall surround the king on all sides, each man with his weapon in his hand. And whoever comes into the house must be put to death. And You are to be with the king in his coming in and in his going out.” And the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and each man took his men, those coming in on the Sabbath, with those going out on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest had not dismissed the divisions. And Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains of the hundreds the spears, and the shields, and the bucklers, that were unto King David, which were in the house of God. And he stationed all the people, and every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right shoulder of the house to the left shoulder of the house, along by the altar and at the house, upon the king all around. And they brought out the son of the king, and they placed on him the diadem, and the testimony, and they made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, “Long live the king.” The Death of Athaliah (2 Kings 11:13–16) And Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, and she came to the people in the house of YHWH. And she looked, and behold, the king was standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the leaders and the trumpeters by the king. And all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing with the trumpets, and the singers with instruments of song, and the teachers in praise. And Athaliah tore her garments and said, “Treason, Treason.” And Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of the hundreds who were set over the force, and he said to them, “Take her outside from within the ranks,23.14 Or out from the precincts and whoever follows her, let him be killed with the sword.” For the priest had said, “Do not kill her in the house of YHWH.” And they seized her hands, and she went by way of the entrance of the Gate of Horses into the house of the king, and they killed her there. Jehoiada Restores the Worship of Yahweh (2 Kings 11:17–21) And Jehoiada cut a covenant between himself, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be for a people of YHWH. And all the people went to the house of Baal and they tore it down, and its altars and images they broke in pieces, and Mattan the priest of Baal they killed before the face of the altars. And Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of YHWH to the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had assigned in the house of YHWH, to offer the burnt offerings of YHWH, as is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with song, by the hands of David. And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of YHWH, so that no one being unclean in any way should enter. And he took the captains of the hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and he brought down the king from the house of YHWH. And they went into the midst of the Upper Gate to the house of the king, and they set the king on the throne of the kingdom. And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, for they had killed Athaliah with the sword. Joash Repairs the Temple (2 Kings 12:1–16) Joash was a son of seven years in his reigning, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. And the name of his mother was Zibiah of Beersheba. And Joash did right in the eyes of YHWH all the days of Jehoiada the priest. And Jehoiada took for him two wives, and he begat sons and daughters. And it came to pass after this that it was with the heart of Joash to renew the house of YHWH. And he gathered the priests and the Levites, and he said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather from all Israel silver to repair the house of your⁺ God sufficiently year by year, and you⁺, hurry to the matter.” But the Levites hurried not. And the king called Jehoiada the chief and said to him, “Why have you not required of the Levites to bring in from Judah and from Jerusalem the tribute of Moses the servant of YHWH and of the assembly of Israel for the Tent of the Testimony?” For the sons of Athaliah the wicked one had broken into the house of God, and also all the holy things of the house of YHWH they had presented to the Baals. And the king spoke, and they made one chest and set it at the gate of the house of YHWH outside. And they made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring to YHWH the tribute of Moses the servant of God upon Israel in the wilderness. And all the leaders and all the people rejoiced, and they brought them in and put them into the chest, until it was filled. And it came to pass at the time when the chest was brought in to the official of the king by the hand of the Levites and they saw, that there was much silver, that a scribe of the king came, and an officer of the high priest, and emptied the chest, and they took it and returned it to its place. Thus they did day by day, and they gathered silver in abundance. And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those doing the work of the service of the house of YHWH, and they hired hewers and craftsmen to renew the house of YHWH, and also craftsmen in iron and bronze to strengthen the house of YHWH. And those working labored in the work, and went up the restoration of the work by their hand, and they made stand the house of God according to its measurement, and they strengthened it. And at their completing it, they brought before the king and Jehoiada the rest of the silver, and they made from it articles for the house of YHWH, articles of serving and of offering up, and dishes, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of YHWH continually all the days of Jehoiada. Jehoiada’s Death and Burial And Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died a son of a hundred and thirty years in his death. And they buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel and with God and His house. The Wickedness of Joash And after the death of Jehoiada, the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. Then the king listened to them. And they forsook the house of YHWH, God of their fathers, and they served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this on account of their guilt. And He sent to them prophets to bring them back to YHWH. And they testified against them, and they would not give an ear. And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood over against the people, and he said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you⁺ transgress the commandments of YHWH, so that you⁺ do not prosper? Because you⁺ have forsaken YHWH, He has forsaken you⁺.’” And they conspired against him and stoned him with stones at the command of the king in the court of the house of YHWH. And Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada his father had done to him, and he killed his son. And as he died, he said, “May YHWH look on this and require it.” The Death of Joash (2 Kings 12:17–21) And it came to pass at the coming around of the year24.23 That is in the spring of the year that the army of Aram came up against him, and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and they destroyed all the leaders of the people from among the people, and all the plunder they sent to the king of Damascus. For with a small company of men the army of Aram came, and YHWH delivered into their hands an exceedingly great force, because they had forsaken YHWH, God of their fathers. And against Joash they executed judgment. And in their going from him—for they left him severely wounded—his own servants conspired against him on account of the blood of the sons24.25 LXX and Vulgate of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and they killed him on his bed, and he died. And they buried him in the City of David, and they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. And these are those conspiring against him: Zabad son of Shimeath the Ammonitess and Jehozabad son of Shimrith24.26 Zabad is a variant of Jozabad; see 2 Kings 12:21. the Moabitess. 24.26 Shimrith is a variant of Shomer; see 2 Kings 12:21. And his sons, and the many oracles about him, and the repairing24.27 Or founding of the house of God, indeed they are written in the Treatise24.27 Or Exposition or Study of the Book of the Kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place. Amaziah Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 14:1–7) Amaziah was a son of twenty-five years when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And the name of his mother was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did right in the eyes of YHWH, but not with a perfect heart. And it came to pass, when the kingdom was strong for him, that he killed his servants who had struck his father the king. And their sons he did not kill, but did as it is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where YHWH commanded, saying: “Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, and sons shall not be put to death for their fathers, but each man shall die for his own sin.” 25.4 Deuteronomy 24:16 Amaziah’s Victories And Amaziah gathered together Judah, and he appointed them according to the house of the fathers captains of the thousands and captains of the hundreds throughout all Judah and Benjamin. And he numbered them from twenty years and above, and he found them three hundred thousand chosen ones going forth to the host, holding spear and shield. And He hired from Israel a hundred thousand mighty men of valor for a hundred talents of silver.25.6 100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of silver; also in verse 9. And a man of God came to him, saying, “O king, do not let the host of Israel go with you, for YHWH is not with Israel or any of the sons of Ephraim. But if you are going, do it—be strong in the battle; God shall make you fall before the enemy, for unto God is power to help and to cause to stumble.” And Amaziah said to the man of God, “And what to do about the hundred talents that I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God answered, “YHWH is able to give more to you than this.” And Amaziah separated the troops that had come to him from Ephraim to go back to their own place. And their anger was kindled greatly against Judah, and they returned to their place in the heat of anger. And Amaziah strengthened himself and led forth his people, and he went to the Valley of Salt and he struck down ten thousand of the sons of Seir. And the sons of Judah took captive alive ten thousand, and they brought them to the top of the rock, and they cast them down from the top of the rock, and all of them were dashed to pieces. And the sons of the troop that Amaziah had sent back so that they would not go with him to the battle—they raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth-horon, and they struck down in them three thousand, and they plundered much spoil. Amaziah Rebuked for Idolatry And it came to pass, after Amaziah came from the striking of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the sons of Seir and set them up as his gods, and he bowed down before them and he burned incense to them. And the anger of YHWH burned against Amaziah, and He sent to him a prophet, and he said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people from your hand?” And it came to pass, in his speaking to him, that he said to him, “Have we appointed you to counsel the king? Cease you! Why should they strike you down?” And the prophet ceased and said, “I know that God has counseled to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my counsel.” Jehoash Defeats Amaziah (2 Kings 14:8–14) And Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent to Joash25.17 Or Jehoash, a variant of Joash; also in verses 18, 21, 23, and 25. son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us look one another in the face.” And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as wife.’ And passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trampled the thistle. You say, ‘Behold, you have struck down Edom!’ And your heart has lifted you to boast. Now dwell in your house; why should you stir up trouble, that you should fall—you and Judah with you?” And Amaziah would not listen, for it was from God, that He might give them into the hand because they sought the gods of Edom. And Joash king of Israel went out, and they looked one another in the faces—he and Amaziah king of Judah—at Beth-shemesh, which is unto Judah. And Judah was defeated by Israel, and each man fled to his tent. And Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, son of Joash, son of Jehoahaz,25.23 Jehoahaz is a variant of Ahaziah. in Beth-shemesh. And he brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, from the Gate of Ephraim to the Gate of the Corner—four hundred cubits.25.23 400 cubits is approximately 600 feet or 182.9 meters. And all the gold and the silver, and all the articles that were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the house of the king, and the sons of the hostages, he returned to Samaria. The Death of Amaziah (2 Kings 14:17–20) And Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from the first to the last, are not they indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel? And after the time that Amaziah turned away from following YHWH, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. And they sent after him to Lachish, and they killed him there. And they brought him on the horses and buried him with his fathers in the City of Judah.25.28 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac the City of David; see 2 Kings 14:20. Uzziah Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 14:21–22; 2 Kings 15:1–7) And all the people of Judah took Uzziah26.1 Uzziah is also called Azariah; throughout this chapter; see 2 Kings 14:21.—and he was a son of sixteen years—and they made him king in place of his father Amaziah. He rebuilt Eloth26.2 Eloth is a variant of Elath; see LXX, 2 Kings 14:22, and 2 Kings 16:6. and restored it to Judah after the king rested with his fathers. Uzziah was a son of sixteen years in his reigning, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. And the name of His mother was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. And he did right in the eyes of YHWH, according to all that Amaziah his father had done. And He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the fear of God. And in the days of his seeking YHWH, God made him prosper. 26.5 Many Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Syriac; other Hebrew manuscripts through the vision And he went out and made war against the Philistines. And he broke down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod. And he built cities around Ashdod and among the Philistines. And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabs dwelling in Gur-baal, and against the Meunites. And the Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and his name spread as far as the entrance of Egypt; for he became strong even to exceedingly. And Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem by the Gate of the Corner, and by the Gate of the Valley, and by the Angle, and he fortified them. And he built towers in the desert, and he dug many wells, for were unto him much livestock both in the Shephelah and in the plains, and plowmen and vinedressers in the hill country and in Carmel; for he was a lover of the ground. 26.10 Or foothills or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea And unto Uzziah was an army making war, going forth to the host by troops, in the number of their reckoning by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, by the hand of Hananiah of the captains of the king. All the number of the heads of the fathers of the mighty men of valor was two thousand and six hundred. And under their hand was the force of the host, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred making war with mighty power to help the king against the enemy. And Uzziah prepared for them, for all the host, shields, and spears, and helmets, and body armor, and bows, and stones of the slings. And he made in Jerusalem devices invented by skillful men to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot26.15 Or to protect those who shoot the arrows and the large stones. And his fame spread even to a distance, for he was marvelously helped until that he became strong. And at his strength, his heart was lifted up to destruction, and he trespassed against YHWH his God, and he went into the temple of YHWH to burn incense on the altar of incense. And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him priests of YHWH—eighty sons of valor— and they stood up against Uzziah the king and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to YHWH, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed; and honor is not unto you from YHWH God.” And Uzziah became furious, and in his hand was a censer to burn incense. And in his being angry with the priests, the leprosy26.19 Leprosy was a term used for various skin diseases; see Leviticus 13. broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of YHWH, from beside the altar of incense. And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous on his forehead, and they rushed him out of that place. And indeed, he hurried to get out, because YHWH had struck him. And Uzziah the king was a leper until the day of his death, and He dwelt in isolation in a house of being leprous, for he was cut off from the house of YHWH. And Jotham his son was over the house of the king, judging the people of the land. And the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from the first to the last, Isaiah son of Amoz the prophet wrote. And Uzziah rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial that was unto the kings. For they said, “He was a leper.” And Jotham his son reigned in his place. Jotham Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 15:32–38) Jotham was a son of twenty-five years in his reigning, and sixteen years he reigned in Jerusalem. And the name of His mother was Jerushah27.1 Jerushah is a variant of Jerusha; see 2 Kings 15:33. daughter of Zadok. And he did right in the eyes of YHWH, according to all that Uzziah27.2 Uzziah is also called Azariah; see 2 Kings 14:21. his father had done, although he did not enter into the temple of YHWH. And again the people acted corruptly. He built the Upper Gate of the house of YHWH, and in the Wall of Ophel he built extensively. And he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers. And He fought with the king of the sons of Ammon, and he prevailed over them, and the sons of Ammon gave to him in that year a hundred talents of silver,27.5 100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of silver. and ten thousand cors of wheat,27.5 10,000 cors is approximately 62,400 bushels or 2.2 million liters (probably about 1,920 tons or 1,740 metric tons of wheat). and ten thousand of barley.27.5 10,000 cors is approximately 62,400 bushels or 2.2 million liters (probably about 1,450 tons or 1,315 metric tons of barley). This the sons of Ammon paid to him in the second year and in the third. And Jotham strengthened himself because he established his ways before YHWH his God. And the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. He was a son of twenty-five years in his reigning, and sixteen years he reigned in Jerusalem. And Jotham rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. And Ahaz his son reigned in his place. Ahaz Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 16:1–9) Ahaz was a son of twenty years in his reigning, and sixteen years he reigned in Jerusalem. And he did not do right in the eyes of YHWH, as David his father. For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and he made images for the Baals. And he burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and he burned his sons in the fire28.3 Or passed his sons through the fire according to the abominations of the nations whom YHWH had cast out before the sons of Israel. And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. Aram Defeats Judah (Isaiah 1:1–9) And YHWH his God gave him into the hand of the king of Aram, and they defeated him and carried away a great number of them as captives, and they brought them in to Damascus. And also into the hand of the king of Israel he was delivered, and he struck him with a great slaughter. And Pekah son of Remaliah killed in Judah a hundred and twenty thousand in one day—all sons of valor—because they had forsaken YHWH, God of their fathers. And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the son of the king, and Azrikam the officer over the house, and Elkanah the second to the king. And the sons of Israel removed from their brothers two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters. And also they took away from them much plunder, and they brought in the spoil to Samaria. And there was a prophet of YHWH (Oded his name), and he went out before the army that came in to Samaria, and he said to them, “Behold, in the fury of YHWH, God of your⁺ fathers, against Judah, He has delivered them into your⁺ hands. And you⁺ have killed them in a rage—it reaches up to the heavens. And now the sons of Judah and Jerusalem you⁺ propose to subdue for menservants and for maidservants unto you⁺. Is there not also unto you⁺ yourselves guilt before YHWH your⁺ God? And now, hear me and return the captives whom you⁺ have taken captive from your⁺ brothers, for the heat of the anger of YHWH is upon you⁺.” And some of the heads of the sons of Ephraim28.12 That is, the leaders of the northern kingdom of Israel—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth,28.12 Meshillemoth is a variant of Meshillemith; see 1 Chronicles 9:12. and Hezekiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—stood up against those coming in from the host, and they said to them, “You⁺ shall not bring the captives here, for guilt against YHWH is upon us; you⁺ are saying to add to our sins and to our guilt. For great is the guilt unto us, and the burning of anger is upon Israel.” The armed ones left the captives and the spoil before the leaders and all the assembly. And the men who were marked by name rose up and took charge of the captives, and all their naked ones they clothed from the plunder, and they clothed them, and gave them sandals, and gave them food and drink, and anointed them, and they let ride on donkeys all the feeble ones. And they brought them in to Jericho, the City of Palms, near their brothers. And they returned to Samaria. The Idolatry of Ahaz (2 Kings 16:10–20) At that time King Ahaz sent to the king28.16 LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate (see also 2 Kings 16:7); Hebrew kings of Assyria to help him. And again the Edomites had come and struck Judah and carried away captives. And the Philistines had raided the cities of the Shephelah28.18 Or foothills or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea and of the Negev of Judah, and they captured Beth-shemesh, and Aijalon, and Gederoth, and Sochoh and its villages, and Timnah and its villages, and Gimzo and its villages. And they dwelt there. For YHWH humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel,28.19 That is, Judah; in 2 Chronicles, Judah is occasionally called Israel, as representative of the true Israel. for he had thrown off restraint in Judah and acted unfaithfully—an unfaithfulness—against YHWH. And Tiglath-pilneser28.20 Tilgath-pilneser is a variant spelling of Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came to him, and distressed him, and he did not strengthen him. For Ahaz had taken a portion from the house of YHWH, and from the house of the king, and from the leaders, and he gave it to the king of Assyria and did not help him. And in the time of distress to him he added to act faithlessly against YHWH (this was King Ahaz). And he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, those striking him, and he said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram are helping them, I will sacrifice to them, that they may help me.” And they were the cause of stumbling of him and of all Israel. And Ahaz gathered the articles of the house of God, and he cut in pieces the articles of the house of God, and he shut up the doors of the house of YHWH, and he made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem. And in every city and city of Judah, he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger YHWH, God of his fathers. And the rest of his acts and all his ways, from the first to the last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. And Ahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem; but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son reigned in his place. Hezekiah Cleanses the Temple (2 Kings 18:1–12) Hezekiah became king, a son of twenty-five years, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. And the name of his mother was Abijah29.1 Abijah is a variant of Abi; see 2 Kings 18:2. daughter of Zechariah. And he did right in the eyes of YHWH, according to all that David his father had done. He, in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of YHWH and strengthened them. And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and he gathered them to the broad place to the east, and he said to them, “Hear me, O Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, and sanctify the house of YHWH, God of your⁺ fathers, and bring out the impurity from the sanctuary. For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of YHWH our God, and they have forsaken Him and have turned away their faces from the dwelling place of YHWH, and have given the neck. Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and they put out the lamps, and they have not burned incense, and the burnt offering they have not caused to ascend in the Holy Place to the God of Israel. And the wrath of YHWH is upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has given them up for a trembling, to be a horror, and to be a hissing, as you⁺ all are seeing with your⁺ eyes. And behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity upon this. Now it is with my heart to cut a covenant before YHWH, God of Israel, that the burning of His anger may turn away from us. My sons, do not now be negligent, for YHWH has chosen you⁺ to stand before Him to serve Him, that you should be unto Him ministering and burning incense.” And the Levites arose: Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonite, Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah; and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; and of the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. And they gathered their brothers and sanctified themselves, and they went in, according to the commandment of the king at the words of YHWH, to cleanse the house of YHWH. And the priests went into the inner part of the house of YHWH to cleanse it, and they brought out all the unclean things that they found in the temple of YHWH to the court of the house of YHWH. And the Levites took it and carried it outside to the Kidron Valley. And they began to consecrate on the first of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the porch of YHWH. And they sanctified the house of YHWH in eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. And they went inside to Hezekiah the king and said, “We have cleansed all the house of YHWH, the altar of burnt offerings and all its articles, and the table of the showbread and all its articles. And all the articles that King Ahaz had cast aside in his reign, in his unfaithfulness, we have prepared and consecrated, and there they are before the altar of YHWH.” Hezekiah Restores Temple Worship And King Hezekiah rose early and gathered the rulers of the city and went up to the house of YHWH. And they brought seven bulls, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven male goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the sons of Aaron, the priests, to offer them on the altar of YHWH. And they killed the bulls, and the priests received the blood and sprinkled it on the altar; and they slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar; and they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar. And they brought out the male goats of the sin offering before the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them. And the priests slaughtered them, and they cleansed from sin with their blood on the altar, to make atonement upon all Israel. “For all Israel,” said the king, “The burnt offering and the sin offering.” And he stationed the Levites in the house of YHWH with cymbals, with harps, and with lyres, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad seer of the king, and of Nathan the prophet. For by the hand of YHWH was the command by the hand of His prophets. And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. And Hezekiah said to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And at the time the burnt offering began, the song of YHWH began, and the trumpets, by the hands of the instruments of David king of Israel. And all the assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpets sounded, all until the burnt offering was completed. And when the burnt offering was completed, the king bowed down, and all those found with him, and they worshiped. And Hezekiah the king said—and the leaders—to the Levites to sing praise to YHWH with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped. And Hezekiah answered and said, “Now that you⁺ have filled your⁺ hand to YHWH,29.31 Or consecrated yourselves to YHWH come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of YHWH.” And the assembly brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and all of willing heart brought burnt offerings. And the number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was seventy bulls, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs—all these for a burnt offering to YHWH. And the consecrated things were six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep. But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings. And their brothers the Levites strengthened them until the work was finished, and until the priests had sanctified themselves. For the Levites were more diligent of heart to consecrate themselves than the priests. And the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings and with the drink offerings for the burnt offering. And the service of the house of YHWH was established. And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, for the matter had come to pass suddenly. Hezekiah Proclaims a Passover And sent Hezekiah to all Israel and Judah, and also he wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of YHWH at Jerusalem to keep the Passover to YHWH, God of Israel. For the king had counseled—and his leaders and all the assembly in Jerusalem—to keep the Passover in the second month.30.2 See Numbers 9:9–12. For they were not able to keep it at that time, because the priests had not consecrated themselves sufficiently, and the people had not been gathered together at Jerusalem. And the matter was right in the eyes of the king and in the eyes of all the assembly. And they established a word, to cause to pass over a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that they should come in to keep the Passover to YHWH, God of Israel, at Jerusalem. For they had not kept it as written for a long time. And the runners went with the letters from the hand of the king and his heads throughout all Israel and Judah, according to the command of the king, saying, “Sons of Israel, return to YHWH, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and He will return to the escaped remnant of you⁺ from the hand of the kings of Assyria. And do not be like your⁺ fathers and your⁺ brothers who trespassed against YHWH, God of their fathers, so that He gave them up to desolation, as you⁺ can see. Now do not harden your⁺ necks as your⁺ fathers; give a hand to YHWH and enter His sanctuary that He has sanctified forever, and serve YHWH your⁺ God, that the burning of His anger may turn away from you⁺. For if you⁺ return to YHWH, your⁺ brothers and your⁺ children will receive mercy before the faces of their captors and will return to this land. For gracious and merciful is YHWH your⁺ God, and He will not turn aside the face from you⁺ if you⁺ return to Him.” And the runners passed over from city to city in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and to Zebulun; and they laughed at them and mocked them. Nevertheless, some from Asher and Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came in to Jerusalem. The hand of God was also in Judah to give to them one heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders in the word of YHWH. Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover And many people gathered to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of the Unleavened30.13 That is, the seven-day period after the Passover during which no leaven may be eaten; see Exodus 12:14–20. in the second month—a very great assembly. And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the incense altars and cast them into the Kidron Valley. And they slaughtered the Passover on the fourteenth of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of YHWH. And they stood on their station according to their ordinance, according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests splattered the blood from the hand of the Levites. For many were in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves, and the Levites were over the slaughtering of the Passovers for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to YHWH. For a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May YHWH, who is good, provide atonement on the behalf everyone who prepares his heart to seek God—YHWH, God of his fathers—and not according to the purifying of the sanctuary.” And YHWH listened to Hezekiah and healed the people. And the sons of Israel who were found in Jerusalem kept the Feast of the Unleavened seven days with great joy, and the Levites and the priests were praising YHWH day by day, accompanied by loud instruments to YHWH.30.21 Or day by day, with all their strength to YHWH And Hezekiah spoke to the heart of all the Levites who gave good understanding of YHWH. And they ate the appointed thing seven days, sacrificing sacrifices of peace offerings and confessing to YHWH, God of their fathers. And all the assembly counseled to keep it another seven days, and they kept it seven days with joy. For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep, and the leaders gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep, and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. And all the assembly of Judah rejoiced, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the assembly that came from Israel, and the sojourners who came from the land of Israel, and those who dwelt in Judah. And there was great joy in Jerusalem, for from the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel nothing like this was in Jerusalem. And the priests, the Levites, arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard. And their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place in the heavens. The Destruction of Idols And at the completion of all this, went out all Israel who were present to the cities of Judah, and they broke in pieces the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles, and threw down the high places and the altars from all Judah and Benjamin, and Ephraim and Manasseh, even to completion, and all the sons of Israel returned, each man to his possession, to their cities. And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and Levites according to their divisions, each man according to his service, the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and peace offerings, to serve, and to give thanks, and to give praise in the gates of the camps of YHWH. Contributions for Worship And a portion of the king was from his possessions for the burnt offerings, for burnt offerings of the morning and of the evening, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and the New Moons and for the appointed times, as it is written in the Law of YHWH. And he told the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and of the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of YHWH. And at the spreading forth of the word, the sons of Israel multiplied the firstfruits of grain, and wine, and oil, and honey, and all the produce of the field; and they brought in the tithe of all the abundance. And the sons of Israel and Judah who dwelt in the cities of Judah, even they, brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of the holy things which were consecrated to YHWH their God, and they placed them in heaps upon heaps. In the third month they began laying them in heaps, and in the seventh month they finished. And the leaders came, and Hezekiah, and they saw the heaps, and they blessed YHWH and His people Israel. And Hezekiah inquired with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. And Azariah the chief priest from the house of Zadok answered him and said, “From the beginning of the bringing of the contribution to the house of YHWH, there is an abundance to eat and to be satisfied and to leave over, for YHWH has blessed His people; and this store is left over.” Hezekiah Organizes the Priests And Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in the house of YHWH, and they prepared them. And they brought in the contribution and the tithes and the holy things in faithfulness. And over them was a leader, Conaniah the Levite, and Shimei his brother second. And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. And Kore son of Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper at the east, was over the freewill offerings to God, to give the contribution of YHWH, and the holy of holies.31.14 Or the most holy And under him were Eden, and Minjamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in faithfulness to give to their brothers by divisions, to the great as well as the small,31.15 Or whether large or small apart from their genealogy, to males from a son of three years and up—to everyone who entered the house of YHWH, by the matter of a day in its day, for their service in their charges, by their divisions— and to the priests in the genealogy according to the house of their fathers, and to the Levites from a son of twenty years and up, according to their work, by their divisions, and to the genealogy among all their little ones, and their wives, and their sons and daughters, the whole company of them. For in their faithfulness they sanctified themselves in holiness. And for the sons of Aaron, the priests, in the fields of the pasturelands of their cities, in every city and city, were men who were designated by name to distribute portions to all the males among the priests and to all who were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites. And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and he did the good and the right and the true before YHWH his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandment, to seek his God with all his heart, he did it. And he prospered. Sennacherib Invades Judah (2 Kings 18:13–16; Psalm 46:1–11) After these deeds and faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria and entered came into Judah, and he encamped against the fortified cities and said to rend them to himself. And saw Hezekiah that Sennacherib had come, and his face was to the battle against Jerusalem, and he counseled with his leaders and commanders to stop up the water from the springs that were outside of the city, and they helped him. And many people gathered together, and they stopped up all the springs and the brook that was flowing in the midst of the land, saying, “Why should the kings32.4 Hebrew; LXX and Syriac king of Assyria come and find many waters?” And he strengthened himself and built up all the wall that was broken, and he raised it up to the towers, and at the outside of the wall, another, and he strengthened the Millo32.5 That is, the terrace in the City of David, and he made weapons in abundance, and shields. And he set military captains over the people, and he gathered them to himself in the plaza at the gate of the city, and he spoke to their heart, saying, “Be strong and be courageous! Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed from before the king of Assyria, and from before all the multitude that is with him, for more are with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh,32.8 Or He has only the strength of his own flesh and with us is YHWH our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were upheld by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:17–37; Isaiah 36:1–22) After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem—and he was by Lachish, and all the forces with him—to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying, “Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria: Upon what do you⁺ trust, that you remain under siege in Jerusalem? Is not Hezekiah inciting you⁺ to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, ‘YHWH our God will snatch us up from the hand of the king of Assyria’? is it not He for whom Hezekiah has taken away His high places and His altars, and has spoken to Judah and to Jerusalem, saying, ‘You⁺ must worship before one altar, and on it burn incense’? do not you⁺ know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Have the gods of the nations of those lands ever been able to deliver their lands from my hand? Who among all the gods of these nations that my fathers devoted to destruction32.14 Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to YHWH, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.—who has been able to deliver his people from my hand, that your⁺ God should be able to snatch you⁺ up from my hand? And now, do not let Hezekiah deceive you⁺ or persuade you⁺ like this, and do not believe him, for not any god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. Also surely your⁺ God will not snatch you⁺ up from my hand!” And his servants spoke against YHWH God and against Hezekiah His servant. And he wrote letters to taunt YHWH, God of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying, “As the gods of the nations of the lands that have not delivered their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver His people from my hand.” And they called out in a loud voice in Hebrew32.18 Or in the dialect of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them and trouble them, that they might capture the city. And they spoke against the God of Jerusalem as against the gods of the people of the earth—the work of the hands of men. Jerusalem Delivered from the Assyrians (2 Kings 19:35–37; Isaiah 37:36–38) And king Hezekiah prayed, and Isaiah son of Amoz the prophet, concerning this, and they cried out to the heavens. And YHWH sent a messenger and cut off every mighty man of valor and leader and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. And he returned with shame of face to his land. And he entered the house of his god, and those coming out of his bowels struck him down there with the sword. And YHWH saved Hezekiah and those dwelling in Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all, and he gave them rest all around. And many brought gifts to YHWH at Jerusalem, and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, and he was lifted up in the eyes of all nations after this. Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery (2 Kings 20:1–11; Isaiah 38:1–8) In those days Hezekiah was sick even to death, and he prayed to YHWH, and He spoke to him and gave to him a sign. And Hezekiah did not repay according to the deed to him, for his heart was lifted up; and there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. And Hezekiah humbled himself for the loftiness of his heart, he and those dwelling in Jerusalem, so that the wrath of YHWH did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah. And were unto Hezekiah riches and honor being very great, and treasuries he made to himself for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all kinds of desirable vessels, and storehouses for the harvest of grain and wine and oil, and stalls for all kinds of various livestock, and herds for the stalls. And he made cities for himself, and possessions of flock and herd in abundance, for God had given to him very much property. And Hezekiah himself stopped the Upper outlet of the waters of Gihon, and he directed them beneath to the west of the City of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. And so with the ambassadors of the heads of Babylon, those sending to him to inquire about the sign that was done in the land, God withdrew from him in order to test him, that He might know all in his heart. Hezekiah’s Death And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his loving devotion, indeed they are written in the vision of Isaiah son of Amoz the prophet and in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. And Hezekiah rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper tombs of the sons of David; and all Judah and those dwelling in Jerusalem did honor to him at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his place. Manasseh Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 21:1–9) Manasseh was a son of twelve years in his reigning, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. And he did evil in the eyes of YHWH, according to the abominations of the nations whom YHWH had cast out before the sons of Israel. And he turned and built the high places that his father Hezekiah had broken down, and he raised up altars for the Baals, and he made Asherah poles, and he worshiped all the host of the heavens and served them. And He built altars in the house of YHWH, of which YHWH had said, “In Jerusalem shall be My name forever.” And he built altars for all the host of the heavens in the two courts of the house of YHWH. And he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of Ben-Hinnom. And he practiced sorcery, and used divination, and practiced witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spirists. He multiplied to do evil in the eyes of YHWH, to provoke Him to anger. And he set up a carved image of the idol that he made in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever; and I will not again remove the foot of Israel from the land that I have appointed for your⁺ fathers, only if they are careful to do all that I have commanded them according to all the law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.” And Manasseh seduced Judah and those dwelling in Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom YHWH had destroyed before the sons of Israel. Manasseh’s Repentance and Restoration (2 Kings 21:10–18) And YHWH spoke to Manasseh and to his people, and they did not listen. And YHWH brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, and they captured Manasseh with the hooks, and they bound him with the bronze, and took him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he implored before the face of YHWH his God, and he humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and he prayed to Him. And He received entreaty of him, and He heard his supplication and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. And Manasseh knew that YHWH, He is God. And after this he built an oiter wall for the City of David on the west of Gihon in the valley, as far as the entrance of the Fish Gate, and it enclosed Ophel and exceedingly heightened it, and he put military captains in all the fortified cities of Judah. And he turned aside the gods of the stranger and the idol from the house of YHWH, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of YHWH and in Jerusalem, and he cast them outside of the city. And he established the altar of YHWH, and sacrificed on it sacrifices of peace offerings and thank offerings, and he told Judah to serve YHWH, God of Israel. But still the people sacrificed on the high places—only to YHWH their God. And the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers speaking to him in the name of YHWH, God of Israel, behold, are in the Words of the Kings of Israel.33.18 That is, Judah; in 2 Chronicles, Judah is occasionally called Israel, as representative of the true Israel. And his prayer and entreaty to Him, and all his sin and trespass, and the places where he built in them high places and set up the Asherah poles and the carved images before he was humbled, indeed they are written among the Words of Hozai.33.19 Or the Records of the Hozai or the Annals of the Prophets And Manasseh rested with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house. And Amon his son reigned in his place. Amon Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 21:19–26) Amon was a son of twenty-two years in his reigning, and two years he reigned in Jerusalem. And he did evil in the eyes of YHWH, as Manasseh his father had done. And Amon sacrificed to all the carved images that Manasseh his father had made, and he served them. And he did not humble himself before YHWH as Manasseh his father had humbled himself, for Amon himself had multiplied guilt. And his servants conspired against him and killed him in his own house. And the people of the land struck all those conspiring against King Amon, and the people of the land made king Josiah his son in his place. Josiah Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 22:1–2) Josiah was a son of eight years in his reigning, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. And he did right in the eyes of YHWH and walked in the ways of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. Josiah Destroys Idolatry (1 Kings 13:1–10; 2 Kings 23:4–20) And in the eighth year of his reign (and he was still young) he began to seek the God of David his father. And in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, and the Asherah poles, and the carved images, and the molten images. And in his presence they broke down the altars of the Baals, and the incense altars that were on high above them he cut down. And the Asherah poles, and the carved images, and the molten images, he broke in pieces and made dust of them, and he scattered it on the surface of the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. And he burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem, and in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, and as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins34.6 Or in the regions of them round about. And he broke down the altars and the Asherah poles, and the carved images he beat to pieces to grinding, and all the incense altars he cut down throughout all the land of Israel. And he returned to Jerusalem. Josiah Repairs the Temple (2 Kings 22:3–7) And in the eighteenth year of his reign, to purify the land and the house, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz the recorder, to strengthen the house of YHWH his God. And they came to Hilkiah the high priest, and they gave the silver that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites who kept the doors had gathered from the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin, and from those dwelling in Jerusalem. And they put it into the hand of those doing the work appointed over the house of YHWH, and they gave it to those doing the work, who were working in the house of YHWH to repair and to strengthen the house. And they gave it to the craftsmen and the builders to buy hewn stones, and timbers for couplings and for beams to the houses that the kings of Judah had destroyed. And the men did the work in faithfulness. And their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of the Kohathites to supervise; and of the Levites, everyone skilled with instruments of song, and over the burden-bearers, and overseers of all who did work for service and service; and some of the Levites were scribes and officers and gatekeepers. Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22:8–13) And in their bringing out the silver that was brought into the house of YHWH, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of YHWH by the hand of Moses. And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of YHWH!” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan. And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought word back again to the king, saying, “All that has been given into the hand of your servants, they are doing. And they have gathered the silver found in the house of YHWH, and they gave it into the hand of the overseers and into the hand of those doing the work.” And Shaphan the scribe declared to the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given a book to me.” And Shaphan read it before the king. And it came to pass, in the king hearing the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam son of Shaphan, and Abdon son of Micah,34.20 Abdon is a variant of Achbor; see 2 Kings 22:12. and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, 34.20 Micah is a variant of Micaiah; see 2 Kings 22:12. “Go, inquire of YHWH for me and on behalf of those remaining in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of YHWH that is poured out on us, upon that our fathers have kept not the word of YHWH, to do according to all written in this book.” Huldah’s Prophecy (2 Kings 22:14–20) And Hilkiah went, and those of the king, to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath,34.22 Tokhath is a variant of Tikvah; see 2 Kings 22:14. son of Hasrah,34.22 Hasrah is a variant of Harhas; see 2 Kings 22:14. keeper of the wardrobe. And she was dwelling in Jerusalem in the Mishneh.34.22 Or the Second Quarter or the Second District And they spoke to her according to this. And she answered them, “Thus says YHWH, God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you⁺ to Me, thus says YHWH: Behold, I am bringing calamity on this place and on its dwellers, according to all the curses written in the book that they have read before the king of Judah, because that they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. And My wrath will be poured out on this place, and it will not be quenched.’ And as for the king of Judah who sent you⁺ to inquire of YHWH in this manner, you⁺ shall say to him, thus says YHWH, God of Israel: ‘The words that you have heard, because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its dwellers, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes, and you wept before Me, I also have heard’—the declaration of YHWH. ‘Surely I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place and its dwellers.’” And to the king they brought back word. Josiah Renews the Covenant (2 Kings 23:1–3) And the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. And the king went up to the house of YHWH, and every man of Judah, and those dwelling in Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people great and small. And he read in their ears all the words of the Book of the Covenant found in the house of YHWH. And the king stood in his place, and he cut a covenant before YHWH, to follow after YHWH and to keep His commandments, and His testimonies, and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to do the words of the covenant written in this book. And he made to stand all found in Jerusalem and Benjamin, and those dwelling in Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. And Josiah turned aside all the abominations that made serve the sons of Israel from all the lands, and caused all found in Israel to serve YHWH their God. All his days they did not depart from following YHWH, God of their fathers. Josiah Restores the Passover (2 Kings 23:21–27) And Josiah made in Jerusalem a Passover to YHWH, and they slaughtered the Passover on the fourteenth of the first month. And he set the priests over their charges, and he strengthened them for the service of the house of YHWH. And he said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to YHWH, “Put the holy ark in the house that Solomon son of David king of Israel built. It is not a burden to you⁺ on the shoulder. Now serve YHWH your⁺ God and His people Israel. And prepare by the house of your⁺ fathers, according to your⁺ divisions, by the writing of David king of Israel and by the writing of Solomon his son. And stand in the Holy Place according to the divisions of the houses of the fathers of your⁺ brothers, the sons of the people, and by the division of the house of a father of the Levites. And slaughter the Passover, and consecrate yourselves, and prepare them for your⁺ brothers, that they may do according to the word of YHWH by the hand of Moses.” And Josiah gave to the sons of the people from the flock of lambs and sons of female goats, all for the Passovers for all who were present, to the number of thirty thousand, as well as three thousand cattle; these were from the possessions of the king. And his leaders lifted up for a freewill offering to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the Passovers two thousand and six hundred and three hundred bulls. And Conaniah, and Shemaiah and Nethanel his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chiefs of the Levites, lifted up to the Levites for the Passovers five thousand and five hundred bulls. And the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their places, and the Levites according to their divisions, according to the command of the king. And they slaughtered the Passover, and the priests splattered with their hands, and the Levites skinned. And they turned aside the burnt offering, to give to the divisions of the house of the fathers for the sons of the people, to offer to YHWH as written in the Book of Moses; and likewise with the bulls. And they roasted the Passover with the fire according to the ordinance, and the holy things they boiled in the pots, and in the kettles, and in the pans, and quickly brought them to all the sons of the people. And afterward they prepared for themselves and for the priests, since the priests, the sons of Aaron, were offering up the burnt offering and the fat until night; and the Levites made preparations for themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron. And the singers, the sons of Asaph, on their station, according to the command of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun seer of the king. And the gatekeepers were at gate and gate; they did not turn aside from upon their position, because their brothers the Levites made preparations for them. And all the service of YHWH was prepared on that day, to keep the Passover and to cause to ascend burnt offerings on the altar of YHWH, according to the command of King Josiah. And the sons of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, and the Feast of the Unleavened35.17 That is, the seven-day period after the Passover during which no leaven may be eaten; see Exodus 12:14–20. seven days. And a Passover like that had not been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. And none of the kings of Israel had kept a Passover as kept by Josiah, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and those dwelling in Jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this Passover was kept. The Death of Josiah (2 Kings 23:28–30) After all this, when Josiah had prepared the house, Neco king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him. And he sent to him messengers, saying, “And what have I to do with you, O king of Judah? Not against you this day, but against the house I am fighting, for God told me to hurry. Cease for yourself from God, who is with me, and He will not destroy you.” And Josiah did not turn his face from him. But he disguised himself to fight against him, and he did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God; and he came to fight on the Plain of Megiddo. And the archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am severely wounded.” And His servants took him out from the chariot, and they made him ride in the second chariot that was unto him, and they brought him to Jerusalem. And he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. Laments over Josiah And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and all the singers and the songstresses spoke in their lamentations over Josiah. And to this day they made it a custom in Israel, and behold, they are written in the Laments. And the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his loving devotions according to what is written in the Law of YHWH, and his deeds from the first to the last, indeed they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. Jehoahaz Succeeds Josiah (2 Kings 23:31–35) And the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, and they made him king in place of his father in Jerusalem. Joahaz36.2 Joahaz is a variant of Jehoahaz; also in verse 4 was a son of three and twenty years in his reigning, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And the king of Egypt turned him aside at Jerusalem, and he imposed a fine on the land, a hundred talents of silver36.3 100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of silver. and a talent of gold.36.3 A talent is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of gold. And the king of Egypt caused Eliakim his brother to reign over Judah and Jerusalem, and he turned his name to Jehoiakim. And Neco took Joahaz his brother and carried him off to Egypt. Jehoiakim Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 23:36–37) Jehoiakim was a son of twenty-five years in his reigning, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. And he did evil in the eyes of YHWH his God. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him and bound him in bronze to carry him off to Babylon. And some of the articles from the house of YHWH, Nebuchadnezzar carried off to Babylon, and he put them in his temple36.7 Or palace at Babylon. And the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and the abominations that he did, and what was found against him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place. Jehoiachin Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 24:6–9) Jehoiachin was a son of eighteen36.9 One Hebrew manuscript, some LXX manuscripts, and Syriac (see also 2 Kings 24:8); most Hebrew manuscripts eight years in his reigning, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. And he did evil in the eyes of YHWH. And at the return of the year36.10 That is in the spring of the year King Nebuchadnezzar summoned him and took him to Babylon, with the desirable vessels from the house of YHWH, and he caused Zedekiah his brother36.10 Or relative or uncle to reign over Judah and Jerusalem. Zedekiah Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 24:18–20; Jeremiah 52:1–3) Zedekiah was a son of twenty-one years in his reigning, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. And He did evil in the eyes of YHWH his God; he did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet from the mouth of YHWH. And also he rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had caused him to swear by God. And he stiffened his neck and strengthened36.13 Or hardened or made courageous his heart against turning to YHWH, God of Israel. Also, all the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied to act unfaithfully—an unfaithfulness—like all the abominations of the nations, and they defiled the house of YHWH that He had consecrated in Jerusalem. The Fall of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:1–7) And YHWH, God of their fathers, sent to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. And they mocked the messengers of God and despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of YHWH arose against His people, until there was no healing. And He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans,36.17 That is, the Babylonians and he killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and he had no compassion on young man or virgin, on the aged or the weak. He gave all into his hand. And all the articles from the house of God—great and small, and the treasures of the house of YHWH, and the treasures of the king and of his leaders—the entirety he brought in to Babylon. And they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and all its palaces they burned with the fire and destroyed all the desirable vessels. And he carried away those who escaped from the sword to Babylon, and they were unto him and unto his sons for servants until the reigning of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of YHWH by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths. All the days of her desolation she kept Sabbath, to the fullness of seventy years.36.21 See Jeremiah 25:12 and Jeremiah 29:10. The Proclamation of Cyrus (Ezra 1:1–4; Isaiah 45:1–25) And in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of YHWH by the mouth of Jeremiah, YHWH stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, and he caused to pass over a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also in writing, saying, “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: ‘All the kingdoms of the earth, YHWH God of the heavens has given to me, and He has commanded to me to build for Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is among you⁺ of all his people? YHWH his God be with him, and may he go up.’”