Judah’s King Amaziah

14 In^(A) the second year of Israel’s King Jehoash^[a](B) son of Jehoahaz,^[b] Amaziah^(C) son of Joash became king of Judah. ² He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan;^[c] she was from Jerusalem. ³ He did what was right in the Lord’s sight, but not like his ancestor David. He did everything his father Joash had done.^{(D) 4} Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.^(E)

⁵ As soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, Amaziah killed his servants who had killed his father the king.^{(F) 6} However, he did not put the children of the killers to death, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses where the Lord commanded, “Fathers are not to be put to death because of children, and children are not to be put to death because of fathers; instead, each one will be put to death for his own sin.”^(G)

⁷ Amaziah killed ten thousand Edomites in Salt Valley.^(H) He took Sela^(I) in battle and called it Joktheel,^(J) which is still its name today. ⁸ Amaziah then sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, and challenged him: “Come, let’s meet face to face.”^(K)

⁹ King Jehoash of Israel sent word to King Amaziah of Judah, saying, “The thistle in Lebanon once sent a message to the cedar^(L) in Lebanon,^(M) saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle. ¹⁰ You have indeed defeated Edom, and you have become overconfident.^[d](N) Enjoy your glory and stay at home. Why should you stir up such trouble that you fall—you and Judah with you?”

¹¹ But Amaziah would not listen, so King Jehoash of Israel advanced. He and King Amaziah of Judah met face to face at Beth-shemesh^(O) that belonged to Judah. ¹² Judah was routed before Israel, and each man fled to his own tent.^{(P) 13} King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash,^[e] son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down two hundred yards^[f] of Jerusalem’s wall from the Ephraim Gate^(Q) to the Corner Gate.^{(R) 14} He took all the gold and silver, all the articles found in the Lord’s temple and in the treasuries of the king’s palace, and some hostages.^(S) Then he returned to Samaria.

Jehoash’s Death

¹⁵ The rest of the events of Jehoash’s reign, along with his accomplishments, his might, and how he waged war against King Amaziah of Judah, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.^{(T) 16} Jehoash rested with his ancestors, and he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son Jeroboam became king in his place.

Amaziah’s Death

¹⁷ Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash lived fifteen years after the death of Israel’s King Jehoash son of Jehoahaz.^{(U) 18} The rest of the events of Amaziah’s reign are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.^{(V) 19} A conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem,^(W) and he fled to Lachish.^(X) However, men were sent after him to Lachish, and they put him to death there. ²⁰ They carried him back^(Y) on horses, and he was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors in the city of David.^(Z)

²¹ Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,^[g](AA) who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. ²² After Amaziah the king rested with his ancestors, Azariah rebuilt Elath^[h](AB) and restored it to Judah.

Israel’s King Jeroboam

²³ In the fifteenth year of Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash, Jeroboam^(AC) son of Jehoash became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. ²⁴ He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from all the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^(AD)

²⁵ He restored Israel’s border^(AE) from Lebo-hamath^(AF) as far as the Sea of the Arabah,^(AG) according to the word the Lord, the God of Israel, had spoken through his servant, the prophet Jonah^(AH) son of Amittai from Gath-hepher.^{(AI) 26} For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter^(AJ) for both slaves and free people.^[i] There was no one to help Israel. ²⁷ The Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel under heaven,^(AK) so he delivered^(AL) them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.

²⁸ The rest of the events of Jeroboam’s reign—along with all his accomplishments, the power he had to wage war, and how he recovered for Israel Damascus^(AM) and Hamath,^(AN) which had belonged to Judah^[j]—are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.^{(AO) 29} Jeroboam rested with his ancestors, the kings of Israel. His son Zechariah became king in his place.^(AP)

Judah’s King Azariah

15 In the twenty-seventh year of Israel’s King Jeroboam, Azariah^[k](AQ) son of Amaziah became king of Judah.^{(AR) 2} He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. ³ Azariah did what was right in the Lord’s sight^(AS) just as his father Amaziah had done. ⁴ Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.^(AT)

⁵ The Lord afflicted the king, and he had a serious skin disease until the day of his death.^(AU) He lived in quarantine,^[l](AV) while Jotham,^(AW) the king’s son, was over the household governing the people of the land.^(AX)

⁶ The rest of the events of Azariah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.^{(AY) 7} Azariah rested with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. His son Jotham became king in his place.^(AZ)

Israel’s King Zechariah

⁸ In the thirty-eighth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Zechariah^(BA) son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria for six months. ⁹ He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight as his predecessors had done.^(BB) He did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^(BC)

¹⁰ Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He struck him down publicly,^[m] killed him, and became king in his place.^{(BD) 11} As for the rest of the events of Zechariah’s reign, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.^{(BE) 12} The word of the Lord that he spoke to Jehu was, “Four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel,”^(BF) and it was so.

Israel’s King Shallum

¹³ In the thirty-ninth year of Judah’s King Uzziah,^[n] Shallum son of Jabesh became king; he reigned in Samaria^(BG) a full month. ¹⁴ Then Menahem son of Gadi came up from Tirzah^(BH) to Samaria and struck down Shallum son of Jabesh there. He killed him and became king in his place. ¹⁵ As for the rest of the events of Shallum’s reign, along with the conspiracy that he formed, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

Israel’s King Menahem

¹⁶ At that time, starting from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah,^(BI) all who were in it, and its territory because they wouldn’t surrender.^(BJ) He ripped open all the pregnant women.^(BK)

¹⁷ In the thirty-ninth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel, and he reigned ten years in Samaria. ¹⁸ He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. Throughout his reign, he did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^(BL)

¹⁹ King Pul^[o](BM) of Assyria invaded the land, so Menahem gave Pul seventy-five thousand pounds^[p] of silver so that Pul would support him to strengthen his grasp on the kingdom.^{(BN) 20} Then Menahem exacted twenty ounces^[q] of silver from each of the prominent men of Israel to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not stay there in the land.^(BO)

²¹ The rest of the events of Menahem’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings. ²² Menahem rested with his ancestors, and his son Pekahiah became king in his place.^(BP)

Israel’s King Pekahiah

²³ In the fiftieth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. ²⁴ He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^(BQ)

²⁵ Then his officer, Pekah^(BR) son of Remaliah, conspired against him^(BS) and struck him down in Samaria at the citadel of the king’s palace^(BT)—with Argob and Arieh.^[r] There were fifty Gileadite men with Pekah. He killed Pekahiah and became king in his place.

²⁶ As for the rest of the events of Pekahiah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

Israel’s King Pekah

²⁷ In the fifty-second year of Judah’s King Azariah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. ²⁸ He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

²⁹ In the days of King Pekah of Israel, King Tiglath-pileser^(BU) of Assyria came and captured Ijon,^(BV) Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee—all the land of Naphtali^(BW)—and deported the people to Assyria.^(BX)

³⁰ Then Hoshea^(BY) son of Elah organized a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked him, killed him,^(BZ) and became king in his place in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.

³¹ As for the rest of the events of Pekah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

Judah’s King Jotham

³² In the second year of Israel’s King Pekah son of Remaliah, Jotham^(CA) son of Uzziah became king of Judah. ³³ He was twenty-five years old when he became king,^(CB) and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. ³⁴ He did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his father Uzziah had done.^{(CC) 35} Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.

Jotham built the Upper Gate of the Lord’s temple.^{(CD) 36} The rest^(CE) of the events of Jotham’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.^{(CF) 37} In those days the Lord began sending Aram’s King Rezin and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.^{(CG) 38} Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor David.^(CH) His son Ahaz became king in his place.

Judah’s King Ahaz

16 In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah,^(CI) Ahaz^(CJ) son of Jotham became king of Judah. ² Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God like his ancestor David^{(CK) 3} but walked in the ways of the kings of Israel.^(CL) He even sacrificed his son in the fire,^[s] imitating the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites.^{(CM) 4} He sacrificed and burned incense^(CN) on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.^(CO)

⁵ Then^(CP) Aram’s King Rezin and Israel’s King Pekah son of Remaliah came to wage war against Jerusalem. They besieged Ahaz but were not able to conquer him.^{(CQ) 6} At that time Aram’s King Rezin recovered Elath for Aram and expelled the Judahites from Elath.^(CR) Then the Arameans came to Elath, and they still live there today.^(CS)

⁷ So Ahaz sent messengers^(CT) to King Tiglath-pileser^(CU) of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. March up and save me from the grasp of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are rising up against me.” ⁸ Ahaz also took the silver and gold found in the Lord’s temple and in the treasuries of the king’s palace and sent them to the king of Assyria as a bribe.^{(CV) 9} So the king of Assyria listened to him^(CW) and marched up to Damascus and captured it.^(CX) He deported its people to Kir^(CY) but put Rezin to death.

Ahaz’s Idolatry

¹⁰ King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet King Tiglath-pileser^(CZ) of Assyria. When he saw the altar that was in Damascus, King Ahaz sent a model of the altar and complete plans for its construction to the priest Uriah.^{(DA) 11} Uriah built the altar according to all the instructions King Ahaz sent from Damascus. Therefore, by the time King Ahaz came back from Damascus, the priest Uriah had completed it. ¹² When the king came back from Damascus, he saw the altar. Then he approached the altar^(DB) and ascended it.^{[t] 13} He offered his burnt offering^(DC) and his grain offering, poured out his drink offering, and splattered the blood of his fellowship offerings^(DD) on the altar. ¹⁴ He took the bronze altar^(DE) that was before the Lord in front of the temple between his altar and the Lord’s temple, and put it on the north side of his altar.

¹⁵ Then King Ahaz commanded the priest Uriah, “Offer on the great altar the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering, and the king’s burnt offering and his grain offering. Also offer the burnt offering of all the people of the land, their grain offering, and their drink offerings. Splatter on the altar all the blood of the burnt offering and all the blood of sacrifice. The bronze altar will be for me to seek guidance.”^{[u] 16} The priest Uriah did everything King Ahaz commanded.

¹⁷ Then King Ahaz cut off the frames of the water carts^[v](DF) and removed the bronze basin from each of them. He took the basin^[w](DG) from the bronze oxen that were under it and put it on a stone pavement. ¹⁸ To satisfy the king of Assyria, he removed from the Lord’s temple the Sabbath canopy they had built in the palace, and he closed the outer entrance for the king.

Ahaz’s Death

¹⁹ The rest^(DH) of the events of Ahaz’s reign, along with his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.^{(DI) 20} Ahaz rested with his ancestors^(DJ) and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David, and his son Hezekiah became king in his place.

Israel’s King Hoshea

17 In the twelfth year of Judah’s King Ahaz, Hoshea^(DK) son of Elah became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years. ² He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.^(DL)

³ King Shalmaneser^(DM) of Assyria attacked him,^(DN) and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute. ⁴ But the king of Assyria caught Hoshea in a conspiracy: He had sent envoys to So king of Egypt^(DO) and had not paid tribute to the king of Assyria as in previous years.^[x] Therefore the king of Assyria arrested him and put him in prison. ⁵ The king of Assyria invaded the whole land, marched up to Samaria, and besieged it for three years.^(DP)

The Fall of Samaria

⁶ In the ninth year of Hoshea,^(DQ) the king of Assyria captured Samaria. He deported^(DR) the Israelites to Assyria and settled them in Halah, along the Habor (Gozan’s river), and in the cities of the Medes.^(DS)

Why Israel Fell

⁷ This disaster happened because the people of Israel sinned against the Lord their God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt^(DT) and because they worshiped^[y] other gods.^{(DU) 8} They lived according to the customs of the nations that the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites^(DV) and according to what the kings of Israel did.^{(DW) 9} The Israelites secretly did things^[z] against the Lord their God that were not right. They built high places in all their towns from watchtower^(DX) to fortified city. ¹⁰ They set up for themselves sacred pillars^(DY) and Asherah poles^(DZ) on every high hill and under every green tree.^{(EA) 11} They burned incense there on all the high places just like the nations that the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did evil things, angering the Lord. ¹² They served idols, although the Lord had told them, “You must not do this.”^{(EB) 13} Still, the Lord warned^(EC) Israel and Judah through every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commands and statutes according to the whole law I commanded your ancestors and sent to you through my servants the prophets.”^(ED)

¹⁴ But they would not listen. Instead they became obstinate like^[aa] their ancestors who did not believe the Lord their God.^{(EE) 15} They rejected his statutes and his covenant he had made with their ancestors^(EF) and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves,^(EG) following the surrounding nations the Lord had commanded them not to imitate.^(EH)

¹⁶ They abandoned all the commands of the Lord their God. They made cast images^(EI) for themselves, two calves, and an Asherah pole.^(EJ) They bowed in worship to all the stars in the sky^(EK) and served Baal.^{(EL) 17} They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire^[ab](EM) and practiced divination and interpreted omens.^(EN) They devoted themselves to do what was evil in the Lord’s sight and angered him.^(EO)

¹⁸ Therefore, the Lord was very angry with Israel, and he removed them from his presence.^(EP) Only the tribe of Judah remained.^{(EQ) 19} Even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God^(ER) but lived according to the customs Israel had practiced.^{(ES) 20} So the Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel, punished them, and handed them over to plunderers until he had banished them from his presence.^(ET)

Summary of Israel’s History

²¹ When the Lord tore^(EU) Israel from the house of David, Israel made Jeroboam son of Nebat king.^(EV) Then Jeroboam led Israel away from following the Lord and caused them to commit grave sin. ²² The Israelites persisted in all the sins that Jeroboam committed and did not turn away from them.^{(EW) 23} Finally, the Lord removed Israel from his presence just as he had declared through all his servants the prophets. So Israel has been exiled to Assyria from their homeland to this very day.^(EX)

Foreign Refugees in Israel

²⁴ Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in place of the Israelites in the cities of Samaria. The settlers took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities.^{(EY) 25} When they first lived there, they did not fear the Lord. So the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them.^{(EZ) 26} The settlers said to the king of Assyria, “The nations that you have deported and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them that are killing them because the people don’t know the requirements of the god of the land.”

²⁷ Then the king of Assyria issued a command: “Send back one of the priests you deported.^(FA) Have him go and live there so he can teach them the requirements of the god of the land.” ²⁸ So one of the priests they had deported came and lived in Bethel,^(FB) and he began to teach them how they should fear the Lord.

²⁹ But the people of each nation were still making their own gods in the cities where they lived and putting them in the shrines of the high places that the people of Samaria had made.^{(FC) 30} The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, ³¹ the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire^(FD) to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. ³² They feared the Lord, but they also made from their ranks priests for the high places, who were working for them at the shrines of the high places.^{(FE) 33} They feared the Lord, but they also worshiped their own gods^(FF) according to the practice of the nations from which they had been deported.

³⁴ They are still observing the former practices to this day. None of them fear the Lord or observe the statutes and ordinances, the law and commandments that the Lord had commanded the descendants of Jacob, whom he had given the name Israel.^{(FG) 35} The Lord made a covenant with Jacob’s descendants and commanded them, “Do not fear other gods; do not bow in worship to them;^(FH) do not serve them; do not sacrifice to them.^{(FI) 36} Instead fear the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power^(FJ) and an outstretched arm.^(FK) You are to bow down to him, and you are to sacrifice to him. ³⁷ You are to be careful always^(FL) to observe the statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandments he wrote for you; do not fear other gods. ³⁸ Do not forget the covenant that I have made with you.^(FM) Do not fear other gods, ³⁹ but fear the Lord your God, and he will rescue you from all your enemies.”^(FN)

⁴⁰ However, these nations would not listen but continued observing their former practices. ⁴¹ They feared the Lord but also served their idols. Still today, their children and grandchildren continue doing as their ancestors did.^(FO)

Judah’s King Hezekiah

18 In the third year of Israel’s King Hoshea^(FP) son of Elah, Hezekiah^(FQ) son of Ahaz became king of Judah. ² He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi^[ac] daughter of Zechariah. ³ He did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his ancestor David had done.^{(FR) 4} He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles.^(FS) He broke into pieces the bronze snake that Moses made,^(FT) for until then the Israelites were burning incense to it. It was called Nehushtan.^[ad]

⁵ Hezekiah relied on the Lord God of Israel;^(FU) not one of the kings of Judah was like him, either before him or after him.^{(FV) 6} He remained faithful to the Lord^(FW) and did not turn from following him but kept the commands the Lord had commanded Moses.

⁷ The Lord was with him, and wherever he went he prospered.^(FX) He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.^{(FY) 8} He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its borders,^(FZ) from watchtower^(GA) to fortified city.

Review of Israel’s Fall

⁹ In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Israel’s King Hoshea son of Elah, Assyria’s King Shalmaneser marched against Samaria and besieged it.^{(GB) 10} The Assyrians captured it at the end of three years. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Israel’s King Hoshea, Samaria was captured. ¹¹ The king of Assyria deported the Israelites to Assyria and put them in Halah, along the Habor (Gozan’s river), and in the cities of the Medes,^{(GC) 12} because they did not listen to the Lord their God but violated his covenant—all he had commanded Moses the servant of the Lord. They did not listen, and they did not obey.^(GD)

Judah’s King Uzziah

26 All the people^(A) of Judah took Uzziah,^[a] who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. ² After Amaziah the king rested with his ancestors, Uzziah rebuilt Eloth^[b](B) and restored it to Judah.

³ Uzziah was sixteen years old^(C) when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. ⁴ He did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his father Amaziah had done. ⁵ He sought God^(D) throughout the lifetime of Zechariah, the teacher of the fear^[c](E) of God. During the time that he sought the Lord, God gave him success.^(F)

Uzziah’s Exploits

⁶ Uzziah went out to wage war against the Philistines,^(G) and he tore down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod. Then he built cities in the vicinity of Ashdod and among the Philistines. ⁷ God helped him against the Philistines, the Arabs that live in Gur-baal, and the Meunites. ⁸ The Ammonites^[d] paid tribute to Uzziah,^(H) and his fame spread as far as the entrance of Egypt, for God made him very powerful. ⁹ Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate,^(I) the Valley Gate,^(J) and the corner buttress, and he fortified them. ¹⁰ Since he had many cattle both in the Judean foothills^[e] and the plain, he built towers in the desert and dug many wells.^(K) And since he was a lover of the soil, he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands.^[f]

¹¹ Uzziah had an army equipped for combat that went out to war by division according to their assignments, as recorded by Jeiel the court secretary and Maaseiah the officer under the authority of Hananiah, one of the king’s commanders. ¹² The total number of family heads was 2,600 valiant warriors. ¹³ Under their authority was an army of 307,500 equipped for combat, a powerful force to help the king against the enemy.^{(L) 14} Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and slingstones. ¹⁵ He made skillfully designed devices in Jerusalem to shoot arrows and catapult large stones for use on the towers and on the corners. So his fame spread even to distant places, for he was wondrously helped until he became strong.

Uzziah’s Disease

¹⁶ But when he became strong, he grew arrogant,^(M) and it led to his own destruction. He acted unfaithfully against the Lord his God by going into the Lord’s sanctuary to burn incense on the incense altar.^{(N) 17} The priest Azariah,^(O) along with eighty brave priests of the Lord, went in after him. ¹⁸ They took their stand^(P) against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the Lord^(Q)—only the consecrated priests, the descendants of Aaron, have the right to offer incense.^(R) Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully! You will not receive honor from the Lord God.”

¹⁹ Uzziah, with a firepan in his hand to offer incense, was enraged. But when he became enraged with the priests, in the presence of the priests in the Lord’s temple beside the altar of incense, a skin disease^(S) broke out on his forehead. ²⁰ Then Azariah the chief priest and all the priests turned to him and saw that he was diseased on his forehead. They rushed him out of there. He himself also hurried to get out because the Lord had afflicted him. ²¹ So King Uzziah was diseased to the time of his death.^(T) He lived in quarantine^[g](U) with a serious skin disease and was excluded from access to the Lord’s temple, while his son Jotham was over the king’s household governing the people of the land.

²² Now the prophet Isaiah^(V) son of Amoz wrote about the rest of the events of Uzziah’s reign, from beginning to end. ²³ Uzziah rested with his ancestors, and he was buried with his ancestors in the burial ground of the kings’ cemetery,^(W) for they said, “He has a skin disease.” His son Jotham became king in his place.

Judah’s King Jotham

27 Jotham was twenty-five years old^(X) when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.^(Y) His mother’s name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok. ² He did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his father Uzziah had done. In addition, he didn’t enter the Lord’s sanctuary,^(Z) but the people still behaved corruptly.

³ Jotham built the Upper Gate of the Lord’s temple, and he built extensively on the wall of Ophel.^{(AA) 4} He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.^{(AB) 5} He waged war against the king of the Ammonites. He overpowered the Ammonites, and that year they gave him 7,500 pounds^[h] of silver, 60,000 bushels^[i] of wheat, and 60,000 bushels of barley. They paid him the same in the second and third years. ⁶ So Jotham strengthened his position because he did not waver in obeying^[j] the Lord his God.^(AC)

⁷ As for the rest of the events^(AD) of Jotham’s reign, along with all his wars and his ways, note that they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. ⁸ He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. ⁹ Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David. His son Ahaz became king in his place.

Judah’s King Ahaz

28 Ahaz was twenty years old^(AE) when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the Lord’s sight^(AF) like his ancestor David, ² for he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel^(AG) and made cast images of the Baals.^{(AH) 3} He burned incense in Ben Hinnom Valley^(AI) and burned his children in^[k](AJ) the fire, imitating the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites.^{(AK) 4} He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places,^(AL) on the hills, and under every green tree.

⁵ So the Lord his God handed Ahaz over^(AM) to the king of Aram. He attacked him and took many captives to Damascus.

Ahaz was also handed over to the king of Israel, who struck him with great force: ⁶ Pekah son of Remaliah killed one hundred twenty thousand in Judah in one day—all brave men—because they had abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors. ⁷ An Ephraimite warrior named Zichri killed the king’s son Maaseiah, Azrikam governor of the palace, and Elkanah who was second to the king. ⁸ Then the Israelites took two hundred thousand captives from their brothers—women, sons, and daughters.^(AN) They also took a great deal of plunder from them and brought it to Samaria.

⁹ A prophet of the Lord named Oded was there. He went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, “Look, the Lord God of your ancestors handed them over to you because of his wrath against Judah,^(AO) but you slaughtered them in a rage that has reached heaven.^{(AP) 10} Now you plan to reduce the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, to slavery. Are you not also guilty before the Lord your God? ¹¹ Listen to me and return the captives you took from your brothers,^(AQ) for the Lord’s burning anger is on you.”

¹² So some men who were leaders of the Ephraimites—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—stood in opposition to those coming from the war. ¹³ They said to them, “You must not bring the captives here, for you plan to bring guilt on us from the Lord to add to our sins and our guilt. For we have much guilt, and burning anger is on Israel.”

¹⁴ The army left the captives and the plunder in the presence of the officers and the congregation. ¹⁵ Then the men who were designated by name^(AR) took charge of the captives and provided clothes for their naked ones from the plunder. They clothed them, gave them sandals, food and drink,^(AS) dressed their wounds, and provided donkeys for all the feeble. The Israelites brought them to Jericho, the City of Palms,^(AT) among their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.

¹⁶ At that time King Ahaz asked the king of Assyria for help.^{(AU) 17} The Edomites came again, attacked Judah, and took captives.^{(AV) 18} The Philistines also raided the cities of the Judean foothills^[l] and the Negev of Judah.^(AW) They captured and occupied Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo with their surrounding villages. ¹⁹ For the Lord humbled Judah because of King Ahaz of Judah,^[m] who threw off restraint in Judah and was unfaithful to the Lord. ²⁰ Then King Tiglath-pileser^[n](AX) of Assyria came against Ahaz; he oppressed him and did not give him support.^{(AY) 21} Although Ahaz plundered the Lord’s temple and the palace of the king and of the rulers and gave the plunder to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.

²² At the time of his distress, King Ahaz himself became more unfaithful to the Lord. ²³ He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him; he said, “Since the gods of the kings of Aram are helping them, I will sacrifice to them so that they will help me.”^(AZ) But they were the downfall of him and of all Israel.

²⁴ Then Ahaz gathered up the utensils of God’s temple, cut them into pieces,^(BA) shut the doors of the Lord’s temple,^(BB) and made himself altars on every street corner in Jerusalem.^{(BC) 25} He made high places in every city of Judah to offer incense to other gods, and he angered the Lord, the God of his ancestors.

Ahaz’s Death

²⁶ As for the rest of his deeds^(BD) and all his ways, from beginning to end, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. ²⁷ Ahaz rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city, in Jerusalem, but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah became king in his place.

Judah’s King Hezekiah

29 Hezekiah was twenty-five years old^(BE) when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah^[o] daughter of Zechariah. ² He did what was right in the Lord’s sight^(BF) just as his ancestor David had done.

³ In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the Lord’s temple and repaired them.^{(BG) 4} Then he brought in the priests and Levites and gathered them in the eastern public square.^{(BH) 5} He said to them, “Hear me, Levites. Consecrate yourselves^(BI) now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove everything impure from the holy place. ⁶ For our ancestors were unfaithful and did what is evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They abandoned him, turned their faces away from the Lord’s dwelling place, and turned their backs on him.^{[p](BJ) 7} They also closed the doors of the portico, extinguished the lamps, did not burn incense, and did not offer burnt offerings in the holy place of the God of Israel. ⁸ Therefore, the wrath of the Lord was on Judah and Jerusalem, and he made them an object of terror, horror, and mockery,^[q](BK) as you see with your own eyes. ⁹ Our fathers fell by the sword, and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity because of this.^{(BL) 10} It is in my heart now to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel^(BM) so that his burning anger may turn away from us. ¹¹ My sons, don’t be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to serve him, and to be his ministers and burners of incense.”^(BN)

Cleansing the Temple

¹² Then the Levites stood up:

¹⁵ They gathered their brothers together, consecrated themselves,^(BQ) and went according to the king’s command by the words of the Lord^(BR) to cleanse the Lord’s temple.^(BS)

¹⁶ The priests went to the entrance of the Lord’s temple to cleanse it. They took all the unclean things they found in the Lord’s sanctuary to the courtyard of the Lord’s temple. Then the Levites received them and took them outside to the Kidron Valley.^{(BT) 17} They began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the portico of the Lord’s temple. They consecrated the Lord’s temple for eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished.

¹⁸ Then they went inside to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed the whole temple of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the rows of the Bread of the Presence and all its utensils. ¹⁹ We have set up and consecrated all the utensils that King Ahaz rejected during his reign^(BU) when he became unfaithful. They are in front of the altar of the Lord.”

Renewal of Temple Worship

²⁰ King Hezekiah got up early, gathered the city officials, and went to the Lord’s temple. ²¹ They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. Then he told the descendants of Aaron, the priests, to offer them on the altar of the Lord. ²² So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and splattered it on the altar.^(BV) They slaughtered the rams and splattered the blood on the altar. They slaughtered the lambs and splattered the blood on the altar. ²³ Then they brought the goats for the sin offering right into the presence of the king and the congregation, who laid their hands on them.^{(BW) 24} The priests slaughtered the goats and put their blood on the altar for a sin offering, to make atonement for all Israel,^(BX) for the king said that the burnt offering and sin offering were for all Israel.

²⁵ Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the Lord’s temple with cymbals, harps, and lyres^(BY) according to the command of David,^(BZ) Gad the king’s seer,^(CA) and the prophet Nathan.^(CB) For the command was from the Lord through his prophets. ²⁶ The Levites stood with the instruments of David,^(CC) and the priests with the trumpets.^(CD)

²⁷ Then Hezekiah ordered that the burnt offering be offered on the altar. When the burnt offerings began, the song of the Lord and the trumpets began, accompanied by the instruments of King David of Israel. ²⁸ The whole assembly was worshiping, singing the song, and blowing the trumpets—all this continued until the burnt offering was completed. ²⁹ When the burnt offerings were completed, the king and all those present with him bowed down and worshiped.^{(CE) 30} Then King Hezekiah and the officials told the Levites to sing praise to the Lord in the words of David and of the seer Asaph. So they sang praises with rejoicing and knelt low and worshiped.

³¹ Hezekiah concluded, “Now you are consecrated^[s] to the Lord. Come near and bring sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings to the Lord’s temple.” So the congregation brought sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings, and all those with willing hearts^(CF) brought burnt offerings. ³² The number of burnt offerings the congregation brought was seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. ³³ Six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep and goats were consecrated.

³⁴ However, since there were not enough priests, they weren’t able to skin all the burnt offerings, so their Levite brothers helped them^(CG) until the work was finished and until the priests consecrated themselves. For the Levites were more conscientious^[t](CH) to consecrate themselves than the priests were.^{(CI) 35} Furthermore, the burnt offerings were abundant, along with the fat of the fellowship offerings^(CJ) and with the drink offerings^(CK) for the burnt offering.

So the service of the Lord’s temple was established. ³⁶ Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over how God had prepared the people, for it had come about suddenly.

Celebration of the Passover

30 Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh to come to the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem to observe the Passover of the Lord, the God of Israel.^{(CL) 2} For the king and his officials and the entire congregation in Jerusalem decided to observe the Passover of the Lord in the second month,^{(CM) 3} because they were not able to observe it at the appropriate time. Not enough of the priests had consecrated themselves,^(CN) and the people hadn’t been gathered together in Jerusalem. ⁴ The proposal pleased the king and the congregation, ⁵ so they affirmed the proposal and spread the message throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba to Dan,^(CO) to come to observe the Passover of the Lord, the God of Israel in Jerusalem, for they hadn’t observed it often,^[u] as prescribed.^[v]

⁶ So the couriers^(CP) went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the hand of the king and his officials, and according to the king’s command, saying, “Israelites, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel so that he may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped the grasp of the kings of Assyria.^{(CQ) 7} Don’t be like your ancestors and your brothers who were unfaithful to the Lord, the God of their ancestors^(CR) so that he made them an object of horror^(CS) as you yourselves see. ⁸ Don’t become obstinate^[w](CT) now like your ancestors did. Give your allegiance^[x] to the Lord, and come to his sanctuary that he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God so that he may turn his burning anger away from you,^{(CU) 9} for when you return to the Lord, your brothers and your sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land.^(CV) For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful;^(CW) he will not turn his face away from you if you return to him.”

¹⁰ The couriers traveled from city to city in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but the inhabitants^[y] laughed at them and mocked them.^{(CX) 11} But some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.^{(CY) 12} Also, the power of God was at work in Judah to unite them^[z] to carry out the command of the king and his officials by the word of the Lord.

¹³ A very large assembly of people was gathered in Jerusalem to observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month. ¹⁴ They proceeded to take away the altars that were in Jerusalem,^(CZ) and they took away the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.^{(DA) 15} They slaughtered the Passover lamb^(DB) on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the Lord’s temple. ¹⁶ They stood at their prescribed posts,^(DC) according to the law of Moses, the man of God. The priests splattered the blood received from the Levites, ¹⁷ for there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves, and so the Levites were in charge of slaughtering the Passover lambs for every unclean person to consecrate the lambs to the Lord.^{(DD) 18} A large number of the people—many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun—were ritually unclean, yet they had eaten the Passover^(DE) contrary to what was written.^(DF) But Hezekiah had interceded for them, saying, “May the good Lord provide atonement on behalf of ¹⁹ whoever sets his whole heart on seeking God,^(DG) the Lord, the God of his ancestors, even though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.” ²⁰ So the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.^{(DH) 21} The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread seven days with great joy,^(DI) and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day after day with loud instruments. ²² Then Hezekiah encouraged^[aa](DJ) all the Levites who performed skillfully before the Lord. They ate at the appointed festival for seven days, sacrificing fellowship offerings and giving thanks to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.^(DK)

²³ The whole congregation decided to observe^(DL) seven more days, so they observed seven days with joy, ²⁴ for King Hezekiah of Judah contributed one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for the congregation. Also, the officials contributed one thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep for the congregation,^(DM) and many priests consecrated themselves.^{(DN) 25} Then the whole assembly of Judah with the priests and Levites, the whole assembly that came from Israel, the resident aliens who came from the land of Israel, and those who were living in Judah, rejoiced. ²⁶ There was great rejoicing in Jerusalem, for nothing like this was known since the days of Solomon son of David, the king of Israel.^(DO)

²⁷ Then the priests and the Levites^(DP) stood to bless the people,^(DQ) and God heard them, and their prayer came into his holy dwelling place^(DR) in heaven.

Removal of Idolatry

31 When all this was completed, all Israel who had attended went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars^(DS) throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, to the last one.^[ab] Then all the Israelites returned to their cities, each to his own possession.

Offerings for Levites

² Hezekiah reestablished the divisions^(DT) of the priests and Levites for the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, for ministry, for giving thanks, and for praise in the gates of the camp of the Lord,^(DU) each division corresponding to his service among the priests and Levites. ³ The king contributed^[ac] from his own possessions^(DV) for the regular morning and evening burnt offerings, the burnt offerings of the Sabbaths, of the New Moons, and of the appointed feasts, as written in the law of the Lord.^{(DW) 4} He told the people who lived in Jerusalem to give a contribution^(DX) for the priests and Levites so that they could devote their energy to the law of the Lord. ⁵ When the word spread, the Israelites gave liberally of the best of the grain, new wine, fresh oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance, a tenth^(DY) of everything. ⁶ As for the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah, they also brought a tenth of the herds and flocks, and a tenth of the dedicated things that were consecrated to the Lord their God.^(DZ) They gathered them into large piles. ⁷ In the third month they began building up the piles, and they finished in the seventh month. ⁸ When Hezekiah and his officials came and viewed the piles, they blessed the Lord and his people Israel.

⁹ Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the piles. ¹⁰ The chief priest Azariah, of the household of Zadok,^(EA) answered him, “Since they began bringing the offering to the Lord’s temple, we have been eating and are satisfied and there is plenty left over because the Lord has blessed his people; this abundance is what is left over.”^(EB)

¹¹ Hezekiah told them to prepare chambers^(EC) in the Lord’s temple, and they prepared them. ¹² The offering, the tenth, and the dedicated things were brought faithfully. Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge of them, and his brother Shimei was second.^{(ED) 13} Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were deputies under the authority of Conaniah and his brother Shimei by appointment of King Hezekiah and of Azariah the chief official of God’s temple.

¹⁴ Kore son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was over the freewill offerings to God to distribute the contribution to the Lord and the consecrated things.^{(EE) 15} Eden,^(EF) Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah in the cities of the priests^(EG) were to distribute it faithfully under his authority to their brothers by divisions, whether large or small. ¹⁶ In addition, they distributed it to males registered by genealogy three^[ad](EH) years old and above; to all who would enter the Lord’s temple for their daily duty,^(EI) for their service in their responsibilities according to their divisions. ¹⁷ They distributed also to those recorded by genealogy of the priests by their ancestral families^[ae] and the Levites twenty years old and above,^(EJ) by their responsibilities in their divisions; ¹⁸ to those registered by genealogy—with all their dependents, wives, sons, and daughters—of the whole assembly (for they had faithfully consecrated themselves as holy); ¹⁹ and to the descendants of Aaron, the priests, in the common fields of their cities,^(EK) in each and every city. There were men who were registered by name^(EL) to distribute a portion to every male among the priests and to every Levite recorded by genealogy.

²⁰ Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah. He did what was good and upright and true before the Lord his God.^{(EM) 21} He was diligent in every deed that he began in the service of God’s temple, in the instruction and the commands, in order to seek his God, and he prospered.