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2 Kronieken 33-34
Het Boek
2 Kronieken 33-34
Het Boek
Manasse, de goddeloze koning van Juda
33 Manasse was nog maar twaalf jaar oud toen hij koning werd. Hij regeerde vijfenvijftig jaar vanuit Jeruzalem. 2 Maar hij voerde een goddeloos bewind, want hij moedigde zijn onderdanen aan de afgoden te aanbidden van de heidense volken die de Here had vernietigd toen het volk Israël het land binnentrok. 3 Hij herbouwde de heidense tempels die zijn vader Hizkia had afgebroken, evenals de altaren van Baäl en de Asjéra-beelden. Ook boog hij neer voor de zon, de maan en de sterren en aanbad deze regelmatig. 4,5 Hij plaatste zelfs heidense altaren op de beide voorpleinen van de tempel van de Here die dienden voor de verering van zon, maan en sterren. En dat op de plaats waarvan de Here had gezegd dat Hij daar voor altijd zou worden vereerd. 6 Manasse offerde zelfs zijn eigen kinderen als brandoffer in het dal Ben-Hinnom. Hij ging te rade bij mediums, waarzeggers en bezweerders en moedigde elk soort afgoderij aan. Hij deed afschuwelijke zonden in de ogen van de Here en riep zo zijn toorn op. 7 Hij presteerde het zelfs een afgodsbeeld in Gods eigen tempel neer te zetten, waarvan God tegen David en zijn zoon Salomo had gezegd: ‘Ik zal worden vereerd in deze tempel en in Jeruzalem, de stad die Ik uit alle andere steden van Israël heb gekozen om daar voor altijd te worden vereerd. 8 En als u zich aan mijn geboden houdt en aan alle wetten en aanwijzingen die Mozes u heeft gegeven, dan zal Ik Israël nooit meer verbannen uit dit land, dat Ik uw voorouders gaf.’ 9 Maar Manasse moedigde de inwoners van Juda en Jeruzalem aan tot nog meer goddeloze daden dan de volken hadden gedaan, die de Here destijds vernietigde toen Israël het land binnentrok.
10 Hoewel de Here tot Manasse en zijn volk sprak, luisterden zij niet naar zijn waarschuwingen. 11 Daarom stuurde God het Assyrische leger, dat hen gevangen nam en naar Babel wegvoerde. 12 Pas toen Manasse in uiterste nood verkeerde, vernederde hij zich en vroeg de Here, de God van zijn voorouders, om hulp. 13 En de Here luisterde en beantwoordde zijn smeekbede door hem terug te brengen naar Jeruzalem en zijn koninkrijk. Toen dat was gebeurd, besefte Manasse pas goed dat alleen de Here God is.
14 Hierna herbouwde hij de buitenmuur van de Stad van David, ten westen van de bron van Gihon in het Kidrondal, die naar de Vispoort en rond Ofel liep. Bovendien maakte hij de muur een stuk hoger. Zijn legeraanvoerders verspreidde hij over alle versterkte steden van Juda. 15 Hij verwijderde alle heidense afgodsbeelden en het stenen beeld dat in de tempel stond. De altaren die hij op het tempelterrein en overal in Jeruzalem had laten neerzetten, liet hij afbreken en buiten de stad brengen. 16 Daarna nam hij het altaar van de Here weer in gebruik en bracht er offers op, vredeoffers en dankoffers, en verlangde van de inwoners van Juda dat zij de Here, de God van Israël, ook weer gingen vereren. 17 De mensen bleven echter gewoon op de altaren in de heuvels offeren, al waren die offers nu wel bestemd voor de Here, hun God.
18 De rest van Manasses daden, zijn gebed tot God en Gods antwoord door de profeten, staan allemaal beschreven in het Boek over de Koningen van Israël. 19 Zijn gebed en de manier waarop God hem verhoorde, plus een duidelijke lijst van zijn zonden en fouten, inclusief een opsomming van de plaatsen waar hij heidense tempels, Asjéra-beelden en andere afgodsbeelden plaatste—uiteraard vóór de grote ommekeer in zijn leven—zijn opgenomen in de Kronieken van de profeten.
20,21 Na zijn dood werd Manasse in de tuin van zijn paleis begraven en zijn zoon Amon volgde hem op. Deze Amon was tweeëntwintig jaar toen hij in Jeruzalem aan de regering kwam, maar hij was maar twee jaar aan het bewind. 22 Het was een goddeloos bewind, net zoals dat in de vroege regeringsjaren van zijn vader Manasse. Amon offerde aan alle afgodsbeelden die zijn vader had laten maken. 23 Maar hij wilde niets weten van bekering, zoals dat bij zijn vader wel het geval was. Integendeel, hij begon steeds zwaarder te zondigen en laadde een zeer grote schuld op zich. 24 Uiteindelijk werd hij in zijn paleis vermoord door zijn eigen officieren, die een complot tegen hem hadden gesmeed. 25 Maar het volk zorgde ervoor dat zijn moordenaars werden gedood en riep zijn zoon Josia uit tot nieuwe koning.
Josia, koning naar het voorbeeld van zijn voorvader David
34 Josia was pas acht jaar oud toen hij koning werd. Hij regeerde eenendertig jaar vanuit Jeruzalem. 2 Zijn bewind was een goed bewind, want hij volgde stipt het voorbeeld van zijn voorvader David.
3 Toen hij zestien was en dus nog jong, begon hij de God van zijn voorvader David te zoeken en vier jaar later hield hij een grote schoonmaak in Juda en Jeruzalem door de heidense tempels en Asjéra-beelden en andere gesneden en gegoten afgodsbeelden te verwijderen.
4 Onder zijn leiding werden de altaren van Baäl in stukken geslagen, evenals de reukwerkaltaren die daarop stonden. Ook alle afgodsbeelden werden verbrijzeld om daarna te worden uitgestrooid over de graven van degenen die ervoor hadden geofferd. 5 Hij liet ook de beenderen van de heidense priesters op hun eigen altaren verbranden en reinigde zo Juda en Jeruzalem. 6 Hetzelfde deed hij in de steden van Manasse, Efraïm en Simeon en zelfs in het afgelegen Naftali en in de nabijgelegen plaatsen in dat onherbergzame gebied. 7 Hij verwoestte de heidense altaren, sloeg de afgodsbeelden in stukken en haalde de reukwerkaltaren omver. Die actie voerde hij door het hele land Israël uit, waarna hij terugkeerde naar Jeruzalem.
8 In zijn achttiende regeringsjaar, nadat hij in het land en in de tempel orde op zaken had gesteld, wees hij Safan, de zoon van Azalja, Maäseja, de bestuurder van Jeruzalem, en de kanselier Joah, de zoon van Joahaz, aan om de tempel te herstellen. 9 Zij gingen naar de hogepriester Hilkia en gaven hem het geld dat bij de tempeltoegangen in ontvangst was genomen door de Levieten die daar de wacht hielden. De mensen die naar de tempel waren gekomen met hun gaven, waren afkomstig uit Manasse, Efraïm, de andere overgebleven delen van Israël, uit Juda en Benjamin en uit Jeruzalem zelf. 10,11 Dat geld werd overgedragen aan de opzichters om er de timmerlieden en metselaars mee te betalen en bouwmaterialen aan te schaffen: bouwstenen, grote balken en timmerhout. Hiermee werd gerestaureerd wat de vroegere koningen van Juda hadden vernield. 12 Onder leiding van Jahath en Obadja, Levieten uit de familie van Merari, schoten de werklieden goed op met het werk. Zacharia en Mesullam, uit de familie van Kehat, Levieten die hun muziekinstrumenten goed beheersten, fungeerden als bouwopzichters. 13 Al deze Levieten hielden toezicht op de voormannen en de arbeiders die de bouwmaterialen voor de werklieden aandroegen. Weer anderen maakten de nodige aantekeningen, controleerden het werk of hielden de wacht.
14 Toen de hogepriester Hilkia in de tempel het bij de ingangen verzamelde geld tevoorschijn liet halen, vond hij de oude boekrol waarop de wetten stonden die God Mozes had gegeven. 15,16 ‘Kijk eens hier!’ riep Hilkia tegen Safan, de secretaris van de koning. ‘Kijk eens wat ik in het huis van de Here heb gevonden. Het wetboek van God!’ Hilkia gaf de rol aan Safan, die hem naar de koning bracht. Tegelijkertijd kon hij de koning melden dat de herstelwerkzaamheden aan de tempel goed opschoten. 17 ‘Het geld uit de tempel is bijeengebracht en aan de opzichters en werklieden overgedragen,’ meldde hij de koning. 18 Toen vertelde hij over de boekrol en hoe Hilkia hem had gevonden. En hij begon de koning daaruit voor te lezen. 19 Toen deze de oorspronkelijke tekst van de wetten hoorde, scheurde hij vertwijfeld zijn kleren 20 en ontbood snel Hilkia, Ahikam, de zoon van Safan, Abdon, de zoon van Micha, de secretaris Safan en Asaja, zijn rechterhand. 21 ‘Ga naar de tempel en bid tot de Here voor mij,’ vroeg de koning hun. ‘Bid voor het overblijfsel van Israël en Juda. Deze boekrol zegt namelijk dat de Here zijn toorn over ons heeft uitgegoten omdat onze voorouders de wetten die hierin zijn beschreven, niet hebben gehoorzaamd!’ 22 De mannen gingen naar de profetes Hulda, de vrouw van Sallum, de zoon van Tokhath, zoon van Hasra. Sallum was de beheerder van de koninklijke garderobe. Hulda woonde in het nieuwe gedeelte van Jeruzalem. Toen zij haar vertelden over de problemen van de koning, 23 antwoordde zij: ‘De Here, de God van Israël, zegt: “Zeg tegen de man die u heeft gestuurd: 24 ja, de Here zal een ramp over deze stad en haar inwoners brengen. Alle vervloekingen die in de boekrol zijn beschreven en die aan de koning zijn voorgelezen, zullen werkelijkheid worden. 25 Want mijn onderdanen hebben Mij de rug toegekeerd en heidense goden aanbeden en daarom ben Ik toornig op hen. Ik zal mijn onuitblusbare toorn over deze plaats uitgieten.” 26 Maar de Here zegt tevens tegen de koning van Juda, die u naar mij heeft gestuurd om hierover de Here te vragen: “Zeg hem, dat de Here, de God van Israël, zegt: 27 omdat u berouw hebt en uzelf hebt vernederd voor God, toen u hoorde wat Ik zei over deze stad en haar inwoners en omdat u uw kleren hebt gescheurd en hebt gehuild van vertwijfeling, zal Ik u verhoren. 28 Ik zal u in vrede laten sterven en begraven laten worden. U zult niet met uw eigen ogen de rampen hoeven te zien die Ik over deze plaats en haar inwoners zal brengen.” ’
29 Daarna riep de koning alle leiders van Juda en Jeruzalem bijeen. 30 Samen met hen en de priesters, de Levieten en alle mensen, groot en klein, ging hij naar de tempel. Daar liet de koning voorlezen uit de boekrol van het verbond, die in de tempel was gevonden. 31 Terwijl hij daar voor al die mensen stond, hernieuwde de koning het verbond met de Here en beloofde plechtig dat hij met hart en ziel zijn geboden en voorschriften wilde gehoorzamen en wilde doen wat in de boekrol stond geschreven. 32 Hij liet iedereen in Jeruzalem en Benjamin trouw beloven aan dit verbond met God en zo gebeurde het. Iedereen hield zich aan het verbond met de God van hun voorouders. 33 Vervolgens roeide Josia elk spoor van de afschuwelijke afgodendienst uit in de gebieden die in handen van de Israëlieten waren, en eiste van hen allen dat zij alleen de Here, hun God, zouden dienen. En de rest van zijn leven bleven zij de Here, de God van hun voorouders, trouw.
2 Chronicles 33-34
New International Version
2 Chronicles 33-34
New International Version
Manasseh King of Judah(A)(B)
33 Manasseh(C) was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. 2 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,(D) following the detestable(E) practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 3 He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles.(F) He bowed down(G) to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. 4 He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “My Name(H) will remain in Jerusalem forever.” 5 In both courts of the temple of the Lord,(I) he built altars to all the starry hosts. 6 He sacrificed his children(J) in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums(K) and spiritists.(L) He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.
7 He took the image he had made and put it in God’s temple,(M) of which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever. 8 I will not again make the feet of the Israelites leave the land(N) I assigned to your ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them concerning all the laws, decrees and regulations given through Moses.” 9 But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.(O)
10 The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. 11 So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner,(P) put a hook(Q) in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles(R) and took him to Babylon. 12 In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled(S) himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.
14 Afterward he rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David, west of the Gihon(T) spring in the valley, as far as the entrance of the Fish Gate(U) and encircling the hill of Ophel;(V) he also made it much higher. He stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities in Judah.
15 He got rid of the foreign gods and removed(W) the image from the temple of the Lord, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city. 16 Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings(X) on it, and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. 17 The people, however, continued to sacrifice at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.
18 The other events of Manasseh’s reign, including his prayer to his God and the words the seers spoke to him in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, are written in the annals of the kings of Israel.[a] 19 His prayer and how God was moved by his entreaty, as well as all his sins and unfaithfulness, and the sites where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and idols before he humbled(Y) himself—all these are written in the records of the seers.[b](Z) 20 Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried(AA) in his palace. And Amon his son succeeded him as king.
Amon King of Judah(AB)
21 Amon(AC) was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. 22 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. Amon worshiped and offered sacrifices to all the idols Manasseh had made. 23 But unlike his father Manasseh, he did not humble(AD) himself before the Lord; Amon increased his guilt.
24 Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated him in his palace. 25 Then the people(AE) of the land killed all who had plotted against King Amon, and they made Josiah his son king in his place.
Josiah’s Reforms(AF)(AG)(AH)
34 Josiah(AI) was eight years old when he became king,(AJ) and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David,(AK) not turning aside to the right or to the left.
3 In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God(AL) of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols. 4 Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles(AM) and the idols. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.(AN) 5 He burned(AO) the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purged Judah and Jerusalem. 6 In the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, 7 he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder(AP) and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.
8 In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the Lord his God.
9 They went to Hilkiah(AQ) the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the temple of God, which the Levites who were the gatekeepers had collected from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim and the entire remnant of Israel and from all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 Then they entrusted it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the Lord’s temple. These men paid the workers who repaired and restored the temple. 11 They also gave money(AR) to the carpenters and builders to purchase dressed stone, and timber for joists and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.(AS)
12 The workers labored faithfully.(AT) Over them to direct them were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites descended from Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descended from Kohath. The Levites—all who were skilled in playing musical instruments—(AU) 13 had charge of the laborers(AV) and supervised all the workers from job to job. Some of the Levites were secretaries, scribes and gatekeepers.
The Book of the Law Found(AW)(AX)
14 While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses. 15 Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law(AY) in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan.
16 Then Shaphan took the book to the king and reported to him: “Your officials are doing everything that has been committed to them. 17 They have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the supervisors and workers.” 18 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
19 When the king heard the words of the Law,(AZ) he tore(BA) his robes. 20 He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan(BB), Abdon son of Micah,[c] Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 21 “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that is poured out(BC) on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”
22 Hilkiah and those the king had sent with him[d] went to speak to the prophet(BD) Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath,[e] the son of Hasrah,[f] keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.
23 She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 24 ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster(BE) on this place and its people(BF)—all the curses(BG) written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken me(BH) and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all that their hands have made,[g] my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’ 26 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: 27 Because your heart was responsive(BI) and you humbled(BJ) yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. 28 Now I will gather you to your ancestors,(BK) and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’”(BL)
So they took her answer back to the king.
29 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 He went up to the temple of the Lord(BM) with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. 31 The king stood by his pillar(BN) and renewed the covenant(BO) in the presence of the Lord—to follow(BP) the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.
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.
33 Josiah removed all the detestable(BQ) idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 33:18 That is, Judah, as frequently in 2 Chronicles
- 2 Chronicles 33:19 One Hebrew manuscript and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts of Hozai
- 2 Chronicles 34:20 Also called Akbor son of Micaiah
- 2 Chronicles 34:22 One Hebrew manuscript, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts do not have had sent with him.
- 2 Chronicles 34:22 Also called Tikvah
- 2 Chronicles 34:22 Also called Harhas
- 2 Chronicles 34:25 Or by everything they have done
2 Chronicles 33-34
King James Version
2 Chronicles 33-34
King James Version
33 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
2 But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
4 Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.
6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
8 Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.
9 So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.
10 And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.
11 Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.
14 Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.
15 And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
16 And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.
17 Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the Lord their God only.
18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.
19 His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sins, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.
20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
21 Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.
22 But he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;
23 And humbled not himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.
24 And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.
25 But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.
34 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.
2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.
3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.
4 And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.
5 And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.
6 And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.
7 And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God.
9 And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem.
10 And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the Lord, and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the Lord, to repair and amend the house:
11 Even to the artificers and builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.
12 And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of musick.
13 Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.
14 And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses.
15 And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.
16 And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do it.
17 And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the Lord, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen.
18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
19 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.
20 And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying,
21 Go, enquire of the Lord for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in this book.
22 And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spake to her to that effect.
23 And she answered them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me,
24 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:
25 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.
26 And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the Lord, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard;
27 Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord.
28 Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.
29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
30 And the king went up into the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the Lord.
31 And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.
32 And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
33 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the Lord their God. And all his days they departed not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers.
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