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2 Kings 12:17-18
Living Bible

17 About this time, King Hazael of Syria went to war against Gath and captured it; then he moved on toward Jerusalem to attack it. 18 King Joash took all the sacred objects that his ancestors—Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah—had dedicated, along with what he himself had dedicated, and all the gold in the treasuries of the Temple and the palace, and sent it to Hazael. So Hazael called off the attack.

19 The rest of the history of Joash is recorded in The Annals of the Kings of Judah. 20 But his officers plotted against him and assassinated him in his royal residence at Millo on the road to Silla. 21 The assassins were Jozachar, the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad, the son of Shomer—both trusted aides.[a] He was buried in the royal cemetery in Jerusalem, and his son Amaziah became the new king.

13 Jehoahaz (the son of Jehu) began a seventeen-year reign over Israel during the twenty-third year of the reign of King Joash of Judah. 2 But he was an evil king, and he followed the wicked paths of Jeroboam, who had caused Israel to sin. 3 So the Lord was very angry with Israel, and he continually allowed King Hazael of Syria and his son Ben-hadad to conquer them.

4 But Jehoahaz prayed for the Lord’s help, and the Lord listened to him; for the Lord saw how terribly the king of Syria was oppressing Israel. 5 So the Lord raised up leaders among the Israelis to rescue them from the tyranny of the Syrians; and then Israel lived in safety again as they had in former days. 6 But they continued to sin, following the evil ways of Jeroboam; and they continued to worship the goddess Asherah at Samaria. 7 Finally the Lord reduced Jehoahaz’s army to fifty mounted troops, ten chariots, and ten thousand infantry; for the king of Syria had destroyed the others as though they were dust beneath his feet.

8 The rest of the history of Jehoahaz is recorded in The Annals of the Kings of Israel.

9-10 Jehoahaz died and was buried in Samaria, and his son Joash reigned in Samaria for sixteen years. He came to the throne in the thirty-seventh year of the reign of King Joash of Judah. 11 But he was an evil man, for, like Jeroboam, he encouraged the people to worship idols and led them into sin. 12 The rest of the history of the reign of Joash, including his wars against King Amaziah of Judah, are written in The Annals of the Kings of Israel. 13 Joash died and was buried in Samaria with the other kings of Israel; and Jeroboam II became the new king.

14 When Elisha was in his last illness, King Joash visited him and wept over him.

“My father! My father! You are the strength of Israel!”[b] he cried.

15 Elisha told him, “Get a bow and some arrows,” and he did.

16-17 “Open that eastern window,” he instructed. Then he told the king to put his hand upon the bow, and Elisha laid his own hands upon the king’s hands.

“Shoot!” Elisha commanded, and he did.

Then Elisha proclaimed, “This is the Lord’s arrow, full of victory over Syria; for you will completely conquer the Syrians at Aphek. 18 Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the floor.”

So the king picked them up and struck the floor three times. 19 But the prophet was angry with him. “You should have struck the floor five or six times,” he exclaimed, “for then you would have beaten Syria until they were entirely destroyed; now you will be victorious only three times.”

20-21 So Elisha died and was buried.

In those days bandit gangs of Moabites used to invade the land each spring. Once some men who were burying a friend spied these marauders so they hastily threw his body into the tomb of Elisha. And as soon as the body touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet!

22 King Hazael of Syria had oppressed Israel during the entire reign of King Jehoahaz. 23 But the Lord was gracious to the people of Israel, and they were not totally destroyed. For God pitied them, and also he was honoring his contract with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And this is still true. 24 Then King Hazael of Syria died, and his son Ben-hadad reigned in his place.

25 King Joash of Israel[c] (the son of Jehoahaz) was successful on three occasions in reconquering the cities that his father had lost to Ben-hadad.

14 During the second year of the reign of King Joash of Israel, King Amaziah began his reign over Judah. 2 Amaziah was twenty-five years old at the time, and he reigned in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. (His mother was Jehoaddin, a native of Jerusalem.) 3 He was a good king in the Lord’s sight, though not quite like his ancestor David; but he was as good a king as his father Joash. 4 However, he didn’t destroy the shrines on the hills, so the people still sacrificed and burned incense there.

5 As soon as he had a firm grip on the kingdom, he killed the men who had assassinated his father; 6 but he didn’t kill their children, for the Lord had commanded through the law of Moses that fathers shall not be killed for their children, nor children for the sins of their fathers: everyone must pay the penalty for his own sins. 7 Once Amaziah killed ten thousand Edomites in Salt Valley; he also conquered Sela and changed its name to Joktheel, as it is called to this day.

8 One day he sent a message to King Joash of Israel (the son of Jehoahaz and the grandson of Jehu), daring him to mobilize his army and come out and fight.

9 But King Joash replied, “The thistle of Lebanon demanded of the mighty cedar tree, ‘Give your daughter to be a wife for my son.’ But just then a wild animal passed by and stepped on the thistle and trod it into the ground! 10 You have destroyed Edom and are very proud about it; but my advice to you is, be content with your glory and stay home! Why provoke disaster for both yourself and Judah?”

11 But Amaziah refused to listen, so King Joash of Israel mustered his army. The battle began at Beth-shemesh, one of the cities of Judah, 12 and Judah was defeated and the army fled home. 13 King Amaziah was captured, and the army of Israel marched on Jerusalem and broke down its wall from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, a distance of about six hundred feet. 14 King Joash took many hostages and all the gold and silver from the Temple and palace treasury, also the gold cups. Then he returned to Samaria.

15 The rest of the history of Joash and his war with King Amaziah of Judah are recorded in The Annals of the Kings of Israel. 16 When Joash died, he was buried in Samaria with the other kings of Israel. And his son Jeroboam became the new king.

17 Amaziah lived fifteen years longer than Joash, 18 and the rest of his biography is recorded in The Annals of the Kings of Judah. 19 There was a plot against his life in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but his enemies sent assassins and killed him there. 20 His body was returned on horses, and he was buried in the royal cemetery, in the City of David section of Jerusalem.

21 Then his son Azariah became the new king at the age of sixteen. 22 After his father’s death, he built Elath and restored it to Judah.

23 Meanwhile, over in Israel, Jeroboam II had become king during the fifteenth year of the reign of King Amaziah of Judah. Jeroboam’s reign lasted forty-one years. 24 But he was as evil as Jeroboam I (the son of Nebat), who had led Israel into the sin of worshiping idols. 25 Jeroboam II recovered the lost territories of Israel between Hamath and the Dead Sea, just as the Lord God of Israel had predicted through Jonah (son of Amittai) the prophet from Gathhepher. 26 For the Lord saw the bitter plight of Israel—she had no one to help her. 27 And he had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel, so he used King Jeroboam II to save her.

28 The rest of Jeroboam’s biography—all that he did, and his great power, and his wars, and how he recovered Damascus and Hamath (which had been captured by Judah)—is recorded in The Annals of the Kings of Israel. 29 When Jeroboam II died, he was buried with the other kings of Israel, and his son Zechariah became the new king of Israel.

15 1-2 New king of Judah: Azariah

Father’s name: Amaziah, the former king

His age at the beginning of his reign: 16 years old

Length of reign: 52 years, in Jerusalem

Mother’s name: Jecoliah of Jerusalem

Reigning in Israel at that time: King Jeroboam, who had been the king there for 27 years

3 Azariah was a good king, and he pleased the Lord just as his father Amaziah had. 4 But like his predecessors, he didn’t destroy the shrines on the hills where the people sacrificed and burned incense. 5 Because of this[d] the Lord struck him with leprosy, which lasted until the day of his death; so he lived in a house by himself. And his son Jotham was the acting king. 6 The rest of the history of Azariah is recorded in The Annals of the Kings of Judah. 7 When Azariah died, he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David, and his son Jotham became king.

8 New king of Israel: Zechariah

Father’s name: Jeroboam

Length of reign: 6 months, in Samaria

Reigning in Judah at that time: King Azariah, who had been the king there for 38 years

9 But Zechariah was an evil king in the Lord’s sight, just like his ancestors. Like Jeroboam I (the son of Nebat), he encouraged Israel in the sin of worshiping idols. 10 Then Shallum (the son of Jabesh) conspired against him and assassinated him at Ibleam and took the crown himself. 11 The rest of the history of Zechariah’s reign is found in The Annals of the Kings of Israel. 12 (So the Lord’s statement to Jehu came true, that Jehu’s son, grandson, and great-grandson would be kings of Israel.[e])

13 New king of Israel: Shallum

Father’s name: Jabesh

Length of reign: 1 month, in Samaria

Reigning in Judah at that time: King Uzziah, who had been the king there for 39 years

14 One month after Shallum became king, Menahem (the son of Gadi) came to Samaria from Tirzah and assassinated him and took the throne. 15 Additional details about King Shallum and his conspiracy[f] are recorded in The Annals of the Kings of Israel.

16 Menahem destroyed the city of Tappuah and the surrounding countryside, for its citizens refused to accept him as their king; he killed the entire population and ripped open the pregnant women.

17 New king of Israel: Menahem

Length of reign: 10 years, in Samaria

Reigning in Judah at that time: King Azariah, who had been the king there for 39 years

18 But Menahem was an evil king. He worshiped idols, as King Jeroboam I had done so long before, and he led the people of Israel into grievous sin. 19-20 Then King Pul of Assyria invaded the land; but King Menahem bought him off with a gift of $2,000,000, so he turned around and returned home. Menahem extorted the money from the rich, assessing each one $2,000 in the form of a special tax. 21 The rest of the history of King Menahem is written in The Annals of the Kings of Israel. 22 When he died, his son Pekahiah became the new king.

23 New king of Israel: Pekahiah

Father’s name: King Menahem

Length of reign: 2 years, in Samaria

Reigning in Judah at that time: King Azariah, who had been the king there for 50 years

24 But Pekahiah was an evil king, and he continued the idol worship begun by Jeroboam I (son of Nebat) who led Israel down that evil trail.

25 Then Pekah (son of Remaliah), the commanding general of his army, conspired against him with fifty men from Gilead and assassinated him in the palace at Samaria (Argob and Arieh were also slain in the revolt). So Pekah became the new king. 26 The rest of the history of King Pekahiah is recorded in The Annals of the Kings of Israel.

27 New king of Israel: Pekah

Father’s name: Remaliah

Length of reign: 20 years, in Samaria

Reigning in Judah at that time: King Azariah, who had been the king there for 52 years

28 Pekah, too, was an evil king, and he continued in the example of Jeroboam I (son of Nebat), who led all of Israel into the sin of worshiping idols. 29 It was during his reign that King Tiglath-pileser[g] led an attack against Israel. He captured the cities of Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee, and all the land of Naphtali; and he took the people away to Assyria as captives. 30 Then Hoshea (the son of Elah) plotted against Pekah and assassinated him; and he took the throne for himself.

New king of Israel: Hoshea

Reigning in Judah at that time: King Jotham (son of Uzziah), who had been the king there for 20 years

31 The rest of the history of Pekah’s reign is recorded in The Annals of the Kings of Israel.

32-33 New king of Judah: Jotham

Father’s name: King Uzziah

His age at the beginning of his reign: 25 years old

Length of reign: 16 years, in Jerusalem

Mother’s name: Jerusha (daughter of Zadok)

Reigning in Israel at that time: King Pekah (son of Remaliah), who had been the king there for 2 years

34-35 Generally speaking, Jotham was a good king. Like his father Uzziah, he followed the Lord. But he didn’t destroy the shrines on the hills where the people sacrificed and burned incense. It was during King Jotham’s reign that the upper gate of the Temple of the Lord was built. 36 The rest of Jotham’s history is written in The Annals of the Kings of Judah. 37 In those days the Lord caused King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah of Israel to attack Judah. 38 When Jotham died he was buried with the other kings of Judah in the royal cemetery, in the City of David section of Jerusalem. Then his son Ahaz became the new king.

16 New king of Judah: Ahaz

Father’s name: Jotham

His age at the beginning of his reign: 20 years old

Length of reign: 16 years, in Jerusalem

Character of his reign: evil

Reigning in Israel at that time: King Pekah (son of Remaliah), who had been the king there for 17 years

2 But he did not follow the Lord as his ancestor David had; 3 he was as wicked as the kings of Israel. He even killed his own son by offering him as a burnt sacrifice to the gods, following the heathen customs of the nations around Judah—nations that the Lord destroyed when the people of Israel entered the land. 4 He also sacrificed and burned incense at the shrines on the hills and at the numerous altars in the groves of trees.

5 Then King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah (son of Remaliah) of Israel declared war on Ahaz and besieged Jerusalem; but they did not conquer it. 6 However, at that time King Rezin of Syria recovered the city of Elath for Syria; he drove out the Jews and sent Syrians to live there, as they do to this day. 7 King Ahaz sent a messenger to King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria, begging him to help him fight the attacking armies of Syria and Israel.[h] 8 Ahaz took the silver and gold from the Temple and from the royal vaults and sent it as a payment to the Assyrian king. 9 So the Assyrians attacked Damascus, the capital of Syria. They took away the population of the city as captives, resettling them in Kir, and King Rezin of Syria was killed.

10 King Ahaz now went to Damascus to meet with King Tiglath-pileser, and while he was there he noticed an unusual altar in a heathen temple.[i] He jotted down its dimensions and made a sketch and sent it back to Uriah the priest with a detailed description. 11-12 Uriah built one just like it by following these directions and had it ready for the king, who, upon his return from Damascus, inaugurated it with an offering. 13 The king presented a burnt offering and a grain offering, poured a drink offering over it, and sprinkled the blood of peace offerings upon it. 14 Then he removed the old bronze altar from the front of the Temple (it had stood between the Temple entrance and the new altar), and placed it on the north side of the new altar. 15 He instructed Uriah the priest to use the new altar for the sacrifices of burnt offering, the evening grain offering, the king’s burnt offering and grain offering, and the offerings of the people, including their drink offerings. The blood from the burnt offerings and sacrifices was also to be sprinkled over the new altar. So the old altar was used only for purposes of divination.

“The old bronze altar,” he said, “will be only for my personal use.”

16 Uriah the priest did as King Ahaz instructed him. 17 Then the king dismantled the wheeled stands in the Temple, removed their crosspieces and the water vats they supported, and removed the great tank from the backs of the bronze oxen and placed it upon the stone pavement. 18 In deference to the king of Assyria he also removed the festive passageway he had constructed between the palace and the Temple.[j]

19 The rest of the history of the reign of King Ahaz is recorded in The Annals of the Kings of Judah. 20 When Ahaz died he was buried in the royal cemetery, in the City of David sector of Jerusalem, and his son Hezekiah became the new king.

17 1-2 New king of Israel: Hoshea

Father’s name: Elah

Length of reign: 9 years, in Samaria

Character of his reign: evil—but not as bad as some of the other kings of Israel

Reigning in Judah at that time: King Ahaz, who had been the king there for 12 years

3 King Shalmaneser of Assyria attacked and defeated King Hoshea, so Israel had to pay heavy annual taxes to Assyria. 4 Then Hoshea conspired against the king of Assyria by asking King So of Egypt to help him shake free of Assyria’s power, but this treachery was discovered. At the same time he refused to pay the annual tribute to Assyria. So the king of Assyria put him in prison and in chains for his rebellion.

5 Now the land of Israel was filled with Assyrian troops for three years besieging Samaria, the capital city of Israel. 6 Finally, in the ninth year of King Hoshea’s reign, Samaria fell and the people of Israel were exiled to Assyria. They were placed in colonies in the city of Halah and along the banks of the Habor River in Gozan, and among the cities of the Medes.

7 This disaster came upon the nation of Israel because the people worshiped other gods, thus sinning against the Lord their God who had brought them safely out of their slavery in Egypt. 8 They had followed the evil customs of the nations which the Lord had cast out from before them. 9 The people of Israel had also secretly done many things that were wrong, and they had built altars to other gods throughout the land.[k] 10 They had placed obelisks and idols at the top of every hill and under every green tree; 11 and they had burned incense to the gods of the very nations which the Lord had cleared out of the land when Israel came in. So the people of Israel had done many evil things, and the Lord was very angry. 12 Yes, they worshiped idols, despite the Lord’s specific and repeated warnings.

13 Again and again the Lord had sent prophets to warn both Israel and Judah to turn from their evil ways; he had warned them to obey his commandments which he had given to their ancestors through these prophets, 14 but Israel wouldn’t listen. The people were as stubborn as their ancestors and refused to believe in the Lord their God. 15 They rejected his laws and the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and despised all his warnings. In their foolishness they worshiped heathen idols despite the Lord’s stern warnings. 16 They defied all the commandments of the Lord their God and made two calves from molten gold. They made detestable, shameful idols and worshiped Baal and the sun, moon, and stars. 17 They even burned their own sons and daughters to death on the altars of Molech; they consulted fortune-tellers and used magic and sold themselves to evil. So the Lord was very angry. 18 He swept them from his sight until only the tribe of Judah remained in the land.

19 But even Judah refused to obey the commandments of the Lord their God; they too walked in the same evil paths as Israel had. 20 So the Lord rejected all the descendants of Jacob.[l] He punished them by delivering them to their attackers until they were destroyed. 21 For Israel split off from the kingdom of David and chose Jeroboam I (the son of Nebat) as its king. Then Jeroboam drew Israel away from following the Lord. He made them sin a great sin, 22 and the people of Israel never quit doing the evil things that Jeroboam led them into, 23 until the Lord finally swept them away, just as all his prophets had warned would happen. So Israel was carried off to the land of Assyria where they remain to this day.

24 And the king of Assyria transported colonies of people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and resettled them in the cities of Samaria, replacing the people of Israel. So the Assyrians took over Samaria and the other cities of Israel. 25 But since these Assyrian colonists did not worship the Lord when they first arrived, the Lord sent lions among them to kill some of them.

26 Then they sent a message to the king of Assyria: “We colonists here in Israel don’t know the laws of the god of the land, and he has sent lions among us to destroy us because we have not worshiped him.”

27-28 The king of Assyria then decreed that one of the exiled priests from Samaria should return to Israel and teach the new residents the laws of the god of the land. So one of them returned to Bethel and taught the colonists from Babylon how to worship the Lord.

29 But these foreigners also worshiped their own gods. They placed them in the shrines on the hills near their cities. 30 Those from Babylon worshiped idols of their god Succoth-benoth; those from Cuth worshiped their god Nergal; and the men of Hamath worshiped Ashima. 31 The gods Nibhaz and Tartak were worshiped by the Avvites, and the people from Sephar even burned their own children on the altars of their gods Adrammelech and Anammelech.

32 They also worshiped the Lord, and they appointed from among themselves priests to sacrifice to the Lord on the hilltop altars. 33 But they continued to follow the religious customs of the nations from which they came. 34 And this is still going on among them today—they follow their former practices instead of truly worshiping the Lord or obeying the laws he gave to the descendants of Jacob (whose name was later changed to Israel). 35-36 For the Lord had made a contract with them—that they were never to worship or make sacrifices to any heathen gods. They were to worship only the Lord who had brought them out of the land of Egypt with such tremendous miracles and power. 37 The descendants of Jacob were to obey all of God’s laws and never worship other gods.

38 For God had said, “You must never forget the covenant I made with you; never worship other gods. 39 You must worship only the Lord; he will save you from all your enemies.”

40 But Israel didn’t listen, and the people continued to worship other gods. 41 These colonists from Babylon worshiped the Lord, yes—but they also worshiped their idols. And to this day their descendants do the same thing.

18 1-3 New king of Judah: Hezekiah

Father’s name: Ahaz

His age at the beginning of his reign: 25 years old

Length of reign: 29 years, in Jerusalem

Mother’s name: Abi (daughter of Zechariah)

Character of his reign: good (similar to that of his ancestor David)

Reigning in Israel at that time: King Hoshea (son of Elah), who had been the king there for 3 years

4 He removed the shrines on the hills, broke down the obelisks, knocked down the shameful idols of Asherah, and broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had begun to worship it by burning incense to it; even though, as King Hezekiah[m] pointed out to them, it was merely a piece of bronze. 5 He trusted very strongly in the Lord God of Israel. In fact, none of the kings before or after him were as close to God as he was. 6 For he followed the Lord in everything, and carefully obeyed all of God’s commands to Moses. 7 So the Lord was with him and prospered everything he did. Then he rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to pay tribute any longer. 8 He also conquered the Philistines as far distant as Gaza and its suburbs, destroying cities both large and small.[n]

9 It was during the fourth year of his reign (which was the seventh year of the reign of King Hoshea in Israel) that King Shalmaneser of Assyria attacked Israel and began a siege on the city of Samaria. 10 Three years later (during the sixth year of the reign of King Hezekiah and the ninth year of the reign of King Hoshea of Israel) Samaria fell. 11 It was at that time that the king of Assyria transported the Israelis to Assyria and put them in colonies in the city of Halath and along the banks of the Habor River in Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. 12 For they had refused to listen to the Lord their God or to do what he wanted them to do. Instead, they had transgressed his covenant and disobeyed all the laws given to them by Moses the servant of the Lord.

13 Later, during the fourteenth year of the reign of King Hezekiah, King Sennacherib of Assyria besieged and captured all the fortified cities of Judah. 14 King Hezekiah sued for peace and sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: “I have done wrong. I will pay whatever tribute you demand if you will only go away.” The king of Assyria then demanded a settlement of $1,500,000. 15 To gather this amount, King Hezekiah used all the silver stored in the Temple and in the palace treasury. 16 He even stripped off the gold from the Temple doors, and from the doorposts he had overlaid with gold, and gave it all to the Assyrian king.

17 Nevertheless the king of Assyria sent his field marshal, his chief treasurer, and his chief of staff from Lachish with a great army; and they camped along the highway beside the field where cloth was bleached, near the conduit of the upper pool.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 12:21 both trusted aides, literally, “his servants.”
  2. 2 Kings 13:14 You are the strength of Israel, literally, “The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”
  3. 2 Kings 13:25 of Israel, implied.
  4. 2 Kings 15:5 Because of this, implied.
  5. 2 Kings 15:12 would be kings of Israel, see 10:30.
  6. 2 Kings 15:15 Shallum and his conspiracy, see v. 10.
  7. 2 Kings 15:29 Tiglath-pileser, also called Pul, in v. 19 above.
  8. 2 Kings 16:7 begging him to . . . fight . . . Syria and Israel, literally, “saying, ‘I am your servant and your son. Come and rescue me.’”
  9. 2 Kings 16:10 an unusual altar in a heathen temple, literally, “he saw the altar that was at Damascus.”
  10. 2 Kings 16:18 The Hebrew is unclear.
  11. 2 Kings 17:9 built altars to other gods throughout the land, literally, “built them high places in all their cities.”
  12. 2 Kings 17:20 descendants of Jacob, literally, “descendants of Israel.”
  13. 2 Kings 18:4 King Hezekiah, implied.
  14. 2 Kings 18:8 cities both large and small, literally, “from the tower of the watchman to the fortified cities.”
Listen to 2 Kings 12:17-18
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2 Kings 12:17-18
New International Version

17 About this time Hazael(A) king of Aram went up and attacked Gath and captured it. Then he turned to attack Jerusalem. 18 But Joash king of Judah took all the sacred objects dedicated by his predecessors—Jehoshaphat, Jehoram and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah—and the gifts he himself had dedicated and all the gold found in the treasuries of the temple of the Lord and of the royal palace, and he sent(B) them to Hazael king of Aram, who then withdrew(C) from Jerusalem.

19 As for the other events of the reign of Joash, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 20 His officials(D) conspired against him and assassinated(E) him at Beth Millo,(F) on the road down to Silla. 21 The officials who murdered him were Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer. He died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. And Amaziah his son succeeded him as king.

Jehoahaz King of Israel

13 In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. 2 He did evil(G) in the eyes of the Lord by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from them. 3 So the Lord’s anger(H) burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power(I) of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad(J) his son.

4 Then Jehoahaz sought(K) the Lord’s favor, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw(L) how severely the king of Aram was oppressing(M) Israel. 5 The Lord provided a deliverer(N) for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before. 6 But they did not turn away from the sins(O) of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole[a](P) remained standing in Samaria.

7 Nothing had been left(Q) of the army of Jehoahaz except fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand foot soldiers, for the king of Aram had destroyed the rest and made them like the dust(R) at threshing time.

8 As for the other events of the reign of Jehoahaz, all he did and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 9 Jehoahaz rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Jehoash[b] his son succeeded him as king.

Jehoash King of Israel

10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. 11 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he continued in them.

12 As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, all he did and his achievements, including his war against Amaziah(S) king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals(T) of the kings of Israel? 13 Jehoash rested with his ancestors, and Jeroboam(U) succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

14 Now Elisha had been suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. “My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots(V) and horsemen of Israel!”

15 Elisha said, “Get a bow and some arrows,”(W) and he did so. 16 “Take the bow in your hands,” he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.

17 “Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!”(X) Elisha said, and he shot. “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.”(Y)

18 Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. 19 The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”(Z)

20 Elisha died and was buried.

Now Moabite raiders(AA) used to enter the country every spring. 21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life(AB) and stood up on his feet.

22 Hazael king of Aram oppressed(AC) Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. 23 But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant(AD) with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy(AE) them or banish them from his presence.(AF)

24 Hazael king of Aram died, and Ben-Hadad(AG) his son succeeded him as king. 25 Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-Hadad son of Hazael the towns he had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Three times(AH) Jehoash defeated him, and so he recovered(AI) the Israelite towns.

Amaziah King of Judah(AJ)(AK)

14 In the second year of Jehoash[c] son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem. 3 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. 4 The high places,(AL) however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

5 After the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, he executed(AM) the officials(AN) who had murdered his father the king. 6 Yet he did not put the children of the assassins to death, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Law(AO) of Moses where the Lord commanded: “Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.”[d](AP)

7 He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt(AQ) and captured Sela(AR) in battle, calling it Joktheel, the name it has to this day.

8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: “Come, let us face each other in battle.”

9 But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle(AS) in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. 10 You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant.(AT) Glory in your victory, but stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?”

11 Amaziah, however, would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh(AU) in Judah. 12 Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home.(AV) 13 Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall(AW) of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate(AX) to the Corner Gate(AY)—a section about four hundred cubits long.[e] 14 He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria.

15 As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, what he did and his achievements, including his war(AZ) against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 16 Jehoash rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son succeeded him as king.

17 Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. 18 As for the other events of Amaziah’s reign, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

19 They conspired(BA) against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish,(BB) but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. 20 He was brought back by horse(BC) and was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors, in the City of David.

21 Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,[f](BD) who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 22 He was the one who rebuilt Elath(BE) and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors.

Jeroboam II King of Israel

23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam(BF) son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. 24 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.(BG) 25 He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath(BH) to the Dead Sea,[g](BI) in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah(BJ) son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.

26 The Lord had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free,(BK) was suffering;[h](BL) there was no one to help them.(BM) 27 And since the Lord had not said he would blot out(BN) the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved(BO) them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.

28 As for the other events of Jeroboam’s reign, all he did, and his military achievements, including how he recovered for Israel both Damascus(BP) and Hamath,(BQ) which had belonged to Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals(BR) of the kings of Israel? 29 Jeroboam rested with his ancestors, the kings of Israel. And Zechariah his son succeeded him as king.

Azariah King of Judah(BS)

15 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah[i](BT) son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 3 He did what was right(BU) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. 4 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

5 The Lord afflicted(BV) the king with leprosy[j] until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house.[k](BW) Jotham(BX) the king’s son had charge of the palace(BY) and governed the people of the land.

6 As for the other events of Azariah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 7 Azariah rested(BZ) with his ancestors and was buried near them in the City of David. And Jotham(CA) his son succeeded him as king.

Zechariah King of Israel

8 In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned six months. 9 He did evil(CB) in the eyes of the Lord, as his predecessors had done. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.

10 Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He attacked him in front of the people,[l] assassinated(CC) him and succeeded him as king. 11 The other events of Zechariah’s reign are written in the book of the annals(CD) of the kings of Israel. 12 So the word of the Lord spoken to Jehu was fulfilled:(CE) “Your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”[m]

Shallum King of Israel

13 Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned in Samaria(CF) one month. 14 Then Menahem son of Gadi went from Tirzah(CG) up to Samaria. He attacked Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria, assassinated(CH) him and succeeded him as king.

15 The other events of Shallum’s reign, and the conspiracy he led, are written in the book of the annals(CI) of the kings of Israel.

16 At that time Menahem, starting out from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah(CJ) and everyone in the city and its vicinity, because they refused to open(CK) their gates. He sacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.

Menahem King of Israel

17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years. 18 He did evil(CL) in the eyes of the Lord. During his entire reign he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.

19 Then Pul[n](CM) king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents[o] of silver to gain his support and strengthen his own hold on the kingdom. 20 Menahem exacted this money from Israel. Every wealthy person had to contribute fifty shekels[p] of silver to be given to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew(CN) and stayed in the land no longer.

21 As for the other events of Menahem’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 22 Menahem rested with his ancestors. And Pekahiah his son succeeded him as king.

Pekahiah King of Israel

23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. 24 Pekahiah did evil(CO) in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit. 25 One of his chief officers, Pekah(CP) son of Remaliah, conspired against him. Taking fifty men of Gilead with him, he assassinated(CQ) Pekahiah, along with Argob and Arieh, in the citadel of the royal palace at Samaria. So Pekah killed Pekahiah and succeeded him as king.

26 The other events of Pekahiah’s reign, and all he did, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.

Pekah King of Israel

27 In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah(CR) son of Remaliah(CS) became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. 28 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.

29 In the time of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser(CT) king of Assyria came and took Ijon,(CU) Abel Beth Maakah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He took Gilead and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali,(CV) and deported(CW) the people to Assyria. 30 Then Hoshea(CX) son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked and assassinated(CY) him, and then succeeded him as king in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.

31 As for the other events of Pekah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals(CZ) of the kings of Israel?

Jotham King of Judah(DA)

32 In the second year of Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham(DB) son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign. 33 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. 34 He did what was right(DC) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Uzziah had done. 35 The high places,(DD) however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate(DE) of the temple of the Lord.

36 As for the other events of Jotham’s reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 37 (In those days the Lord began to send Rezin(DF) king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.) 38 Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David, the city of his father. And Ahaz his son succeeded him as king.

Ahaz King of Judah(DG)

16 In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz(DH) son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. 2 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right(DI) in the eyes of the Lord his God. 3 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel(DJ) and even sacrificed his son(DK) in the fire, engaging in the detestable(DL) practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense(DM) at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.(DN)

5 Then Rezin(DO) king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem and besieged Ahaz, but they could not overpower him. 6 At that time, Rezin(DP) king of Aram recovered Elath(DQ) for Aram by driving out the people of Judah. Edomites then moved into Elath and have lived there to this day.

7 Ahaz sent messengers to say to Tiglath-Pileser(DR) king of Assyria, “I am your servant and vassal. Come up and save(DS) me out of the hand of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.” 8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as a gift(DT) to the king of Assyria. 9 The king of Assyria complied by attacking Damascus(DU) and capturing it. He deported its inhabitants to Kir(DV) and put Rezin to death.

10 Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He saw an altar in Damascus and sent to Uriah(DW) the priest a sketch of the altar, with detailed plans for its construction. 11 So Uriah the priest built an altar in accordance with all the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus and finished it before King Ahaz returned. 12 When the king came back from Damascus and saw the altar, he approached it and presented offerings[q](DX) on it. 13 He offered up his burnt offering(DY) and grain offering,(DZ) poured out his drink offering,(EA) and splashed the blood of his fellowship offerings(EB) against the altar. 14 As for the bronze altar(EC) that stood before the Lord, he brought it from the front of the temple—from between the new altar and the temple of the Lord—and put it on the north side of the new altar.

15 King Ahaz then gave these orders to Uriah the priest: “On the large new altar, offer the morning(ED) burnt offering and the evening grain offering, the king’s burnt offering and his grain offering, and the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offering. Splash against this altar the blood of all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar for seeking guidance.”(EE) 16 And Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz had ordered.

17 King Ahaz cut off the side panels and removed the basins from the movable stands. He removed the Sea from the bronze bulls that supported it and set it on a stone base.(EF) 18 He took away the Sabbath canopy[r] that had been built at the temple and removed the royal entryway outside the temple of the Lord, in deference to the king of Assyria.(EG)

19 As for the other events of the reign of Ahaz, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 20 Ahaz rested(EH) with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. And Hezekiah his son succeeded him as king.

Hoshea Last King of Israel(EI)

17 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea(EJ) son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years. 2 He did evil(EK) in the eyes of the Lord, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.

3 Shalmaneser(EL) king of Assyria came up to attack Hoshea, who had been Shalmaneser’s vassal and had paid him tribute.(EM) 4 But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was a traitor, for he had sent envoys to So[s] king of Egypt,(EN) and he no longer paid tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore Shalmaneser seized him and put him in prison.(EO) 5 The king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched against Samaria and laid siege(EP) to it for three years. 6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria(EQ) captured Samaria(ER) and deported(ES) the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan(ET) on the Habor River and in the towns of the Medes.

Israel Exiled Because of Sin

7 All this took place because the Israelites had sinned(EU) against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt(EV) from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods 8 and followed the practices of the nations(EW) the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. 9 The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city(EX) they built themselves high places in all their towns. 10 They set up sacred stones(EY) and Asherah poles(EZ) on every high hill and under every spreading tree.(FA) 11 At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. 12 They worshiped idols,(FB) though the Lord had said, “You shall not do this.”[t] 13 The Lord warned(FC) Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers:(FD) “Turn from your evil ways.(FE) Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”(FF)

14 But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked(FG) as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God. 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant(FH) he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols(FI) and themselves became worthless.(FJ) They imitated the nations(FK) around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

16 They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves,(FL) and an Asherah(FM) pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts,(FN) and they worshiped Baal.(FO) 17 They sacrificed(FP) their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens(FQ) and sold(FR) themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

18 So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence.(FS) Only the tribe of Judah was left, 19 and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced.(FT) 20 Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers,(FU) until he thrust them from his presence.(FV)

21 When he tore(FW) Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat their king.(FX) Jeroboam enticed Israel away from following the Lord and caused them to commit a great sin.(FY) 22 The Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them 23 until the Lord removed them from his presence,(FZ) as he had warned(GA) through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland(GB) into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.

Samaria Resettled

24 The king of Assyria(GC) brought people from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim(GD) and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns. 25 When they first lived there, they did not worship the Lord; so he sent lions(GE) among them and they killed some of the people. 26 It was reported to the king of Assyria: “The people you deported and resettled in the towns of Samaria do not know what the god of that country requires. He has sent lions among them, which are killing them off, because the people do not know what he requires.”

27 Then the king of Assyria gave this order: “Have one of the priests you took captive from Samaria go back to live there and teach the people what the god of the land requires.” 28 So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how to worship the Lord.

29 Nevertheless, each national group made its own gods in the several towns(GF) where they settled, and set them up in the shrines(GG) the people of Samaria had made at the high places.(GH) 30 The people from Babylon made Sukkoth Benoth, those from Kuthah made Nergal, and those from Hamath made Ashima; 31 the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelek(GI) and Anammelek, the gods of Sepharvaim.(GJ) 32 They worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed all sorts(GK) of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places. 33 They worshiped the Lord, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.

34 To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the Lord nor adhere to the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands that the Lord gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel.(GL) 35 When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship(GM) any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them.(GN) 36 But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm,(GO) is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. 37 You must always be careful(GP) to keep the decrees(GQ) and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. 38 Do not forget(GR) the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. 39 Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

40 They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. 41 Even while these people were worshiping the Lord,(GS) they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did.

Hezekiah King of Judah(GT)(GU)(GV)

18 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah(GW) son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.(GX) His mother’s name was Abijah[u] daughter of Zechariah. 3 He did what was right(GY) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David(GZ) had done. 4 He removed(HA) the high places,(HB) smashed the sacred stones(HC) and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake(HD) Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.[v])

5 Hezekiah trusted(HE) in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. 6 He held fast(HF) to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. 7 And the Lord was with him; he was successful(HG) in whatever he undertook. He rebelled(HH) against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. 8 From watchtower to fortified city,(HI) he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.

9 In King Hezekiah’s fourth year,(HJ) which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and laid siege to it. 10 At the end of three years the Assyrians took it. So Samaria was captured in Hezekiah’s sixth year, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel. 11 The king(HK) of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes.(HL) 12 This happened because they had not obeyed the Lord their God, but had violated his covenant(HM)—all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded.(HN) They neither listened to the commands(HO) nor carried them out.

13 In the fourteenth year(HP) of King Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah(HQ) and captured them. 14 So Hezekiah king of Judah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish:(HR) “I have done wrong.(HS) Withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand of me.” The king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents[w] of silver and thirty talents[x] of gold. 15 So Hezekiah gave(HT) him all the silver that was found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace.

16 At this time Hezekiah king of Judah stripped off the gold with which he had covered the doors(HU) and doorposts of the temple of the Lord, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem(HV)(HW)

17 The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander,(HX) his chief officer and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came up to Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool,(HY) on the road to the Washerman’s Field.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 13:6 That is, a wooden symbol of the goddess Asherah; here and elsewhere in 2 Kings
  2. 2 Kings 13:9 Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash; also in verses 12-14 and 25
  3. 2 Kings 14:1 Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash; also in verses 13, 23 and 27
  4. 2 Kings 14:6 Deut. 24:16
  5. 2 Kings 14:13 That is, about 600 feet or about 180 meters
  6. 2 Kings 14:21 Also called Uzziah
  7. 2 Kings 14:25 Hebrew the Sea of the Arabah
  8. 2 Kings 14:26 Or Israel was suffering. They were without a ruler or leader, and
  9. 2 Kings 15:1 Also called Uzziah; also in verses 6, 7, 8, 17, 23 and 27
  10. 2 Kings 15:5 The Hebrew for leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  11. 2 Kings 15:5 Or in a house where he was relieved of responsibilities
  12. 2 Kings 15:10 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts in Ibleam
  13. 2 Kings 15:12 2 Kings 10:30
  14. 2 Kings 15:19 Also called Tiglath-Pileser
  15. 2 Kings 15:19 That is, about 38 tons or about 34 metric tons
  16. 2 Kings 15:20 That is, about 1 1/4 pounds or about 575 grams
  17. 2 Kings 16:12 Or and went up
  18. 2 Kings 16:18 Or the dais of his throne (see Septuagint)
  19. 2 Kings 17:4 So is probably an abbreviation for Osorkon.
  20. 2 Kings 17:12 Exodus 20:4,5
  21. 2 Kings 18:2 Hebrew Abi, a variant of Abijah
  22. 2 Kings 18:4 Nehushtan sounds like the Hebrew for both bronze and snake.
  23. 2 Kings 18:14 That is, about 11 tons or about 10 metric tons
  24. 2 Kings 18:14 That is, about 1 ton or about 1 metric ton
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