³² Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.

¹⁰ In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return^(A) to me with all her heart, but only in pretense,^(B)” declares the Lord.^(C)

Obey the King

² Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God.

¹⁶ Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings^(A) on it, and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel.

¹² Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity^(A) of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the Lord.

²⁹ When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshiped.^(A)

⁴ He commanded Judah to seek the Lord,^(A) the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands.

¹⁹ For I have chosen him^(A), so that he will direct his children^(B) and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord^(C) by doing what is right and just,^(D) so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”^(E)