Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options
Close CEB

2 Kings 11-15
Common English Bible

Queen Athaliah rules Judah

11 When Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, learned of her son’s death, she immediately destroyed the entire royal family. 2 But Jehosheba, King Jehoram’s[a] daughter and Ahaziah’s sister, secretly took Ahaziah’s son Jehoash[b] from the rest of the royal children who were about to be murdered and hid[c] him in a bedroom along with his nurse. In this way Jehoash was hidden from Athaliah and wasn’t murdered. 3 He remained hidden with his nurse in the Lord’s temple for six years while Athaliah ruled the country.

4 But in the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of the Carites and of the guards and had them come to him at the Lord’s temple. He made a covenant with them, and made them swear a solemn pledge in the Lord’s temple. Then he showed them the king’s son. 5 He commanded them, “This is what you must do: A third of you coming on sabbath duty will guard the palace, 6 a second third will be at the Sur Gate, and the final third will be at the gate behind the guards. You will take turns guarding the temple.[d] 7 You who are in the first two groups that usually go off duty on the Sabbath should also guard the Lord’s temple to protect the king. 8 Surround the king completely, each of you with your weapons drawn. Whoever comes near your ranks must be killed. Stay near the king wherever he goes.”

9 The unit commanders did everything that Jehoiada the priest ordered. They each took charge of those men reporting for duty on the Sabbath as well as those going off duty on the Sabbath. They came to the priest Jehoiada. 10 Then the priest gave the unit commanders King David’s spears and shields, which were kept in the Lord’s temple. 11 The guards, each with their weapons drawn, then took up positions near the temple and the altar, stretching from the south side of the temple to the north side to protect the king. Everyone was holding his weapons, surrounding the king. 12 Jehoiada then brought out the king’s son, crowned him, gave him the royal law,[e] and made him king and anointed him, as everyone applauded and cried out, “Long live the king!”

13 When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guard and the people, she went to the people at the Lord’s temple 14 and saw the king standing by the royal pillar, as was the custom, with the commanders and trumpeters beside the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah ripped her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!”

15 Then the priest Jehoiada ordered the unit commanders who were in charge of the army: “Take her out under guard,”[f] he told them, “and kill anyone who follows her.” This was because the priest had said, “She must not be executed in the Lord’s temple.” 16 They arrested her when she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate at the royal palace. She was executed there.

17 Jehoiada then made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people, that the people would belong to the Lord. The king and the people also made a covenant. 18 Then all the people of the land went to Baal’s temple and tore it down, smashing its altars and images into pieces. They executed Mattan, Baal’s priest, in front of the altars. The priest Jehoiada posted guards at the Lord’s temple. 19 Then he took the unit commanders, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they led the king down from the Lord’s temple, processing through the Guards’ Gate to the palace, where the king sat upon the royal throne. 20 All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was at peace now that Athaliah had been executed at the palace.

Jehoash rules Judah

21 [g] Jehoash was 7 years old when he became king.

12 He[h] became king in Jehu’s seventh year, and he ruled for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beer-sheba. 2 Jehoash always did what was right in the Lord’s eyes, because the priest Jehoiada was his teacher. 3 However, the shrines were not removed. People kept sacrificing and burning incense at them. 4 Jehoash said to the priests, “Collect all the currently available money relating to holy things that is brought to the temple—some is money people pay to redeem persons according to their assessed value. Collect all the money brought to the Lord’s temple that people offer voluntarily.[i] 5 The priests should take the money from their donors and use it to repair the temple wherever such a need for repair is discovered.”

6 But by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, the priests still hadn’t repaired the temple. 7 So King Jehoash summoned Jehoiada the priest and the other priests together. “Why haven’t you repaired the temple?” he asked them. “Stop taking money from your donors; instead, give it directly for temple repairs.” 8 The priests agreed that they wouldn’t take any more money from the people nor be responsible for temple repairs. 9 Then the priest Jehoiada took a box, made a hole in its lid, and placed it beside the altar, to the right as one enters the Lord’s temple. The priests who stood watch at the door put all the money brought to the Lord’s temple in the box. 10 As soon as they saw that a large amount of money was in the box, the royal scribe and the high priest would come, count the money that was in the temple, and put it in a bag. 11 They would then hand over the money that had been counted[j] to those who supervised the work on the temple. These supervisors then paid money to those who worked on the Lord’s temple: carpenters, builders, 12 masons, and stonecutters. The money was used to purchase wood and quarried stone to repair the Lord’s temple and for every other cost involved in repairing it. 13 But the money that was brought to the Lord’s temple was not used to make silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets, or any gold or silver object for the Lord’s temple. 14 Instead, it was given directly to those who did the repair work; they used it to repair the Lord’s temple. 15 There was no need to check on those who received the money and paid the workers, because they acted honestly. 16 Now as for the money for compensation and purification offerings, it wasn’t brought to the Lord’s temple. It belonged to the priests.

17 About this same time, Aram’s King Hazael came up, attacked Gath, and captured it. Next Hazael decided to march against Jerusalem. 18 Judah’s King Jehoash took all the holy objects that had been dedicated by his ancestors—Judah’s kings Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah—along with the holy objects he himself had dedicated, as well as all the gold in the treasure rooms of the Lord’s temple and the palace, and he sent them to Aram’s King Hazael. Hazael then pulled back from Jerusalem.

19 The rest of Jehoash’s[k] deeds and all that he accomplished, aren’t they written in the official records of Judah’s kings? 20 Jehoash’s officials plotted a conspiracy and killed him at Beth-millo on the road that goes down to Silla. 21 It was Jozacar son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer, his officials, who struck him so that he died. He was buried with his ancestors in David’s City. His son Amaziah succeeded him as king.

Jehoahaz rules Israel

13 Jehoahaz, Jehu’s son, became king of Israel in Samaria in the twenty-third year of Judah’s King Jehoash,[l] who was Ahaziah’s son. He ruled for seventeen years. 2 He did what was evil in the Lord’s eyes. He walked in the sins that Jeroboam, Nebat’s son, had caused Israel to commit. He didn’t deviate from them. 3 So the Lord was angry at Israel. Time after time God handed them over to Aram’s king Hazael, and to Hazael’s son Ben-hadad.

4 But Jehoahaz sought the Lord’s presence, and the Lord listened to him because he saw how badly Aram’s king was oppressing Israel. 5 The Lord sent Israel a savior, and they escaped from Aram’s power. Then the Israelites lived peacefully at home, just as they had in the past. 6 But they didn’t deviate from the sins that Jeroboam’s dynasty had caused Israel to commit; they walked in them! Moreover, a sacred pole[m] stood in Samaria. 7 No, nothing was left of Jehoahaz’s army except fifty chariot riders, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers, because Aram’s king had decimated them, trampling them as if they were dirt. 8 The rest of Jehoahaz’s deeds, all that he accomplished, and all his powerful acts, aren’t they written in the official records of Israel’s kings? 9 Jehoahaz lay down with his ancestors. He was buried in Samaria. His son Joash succeeded him as king.

Joash rules Israel

10 Joash,[n] Jehoahaz’s son, became king of Israel in Samaria in the thirty-seventh year of Judah’s King Jehoash. He ruled for sixteen years. 11 He did what was evil in the Lord’s eyes. He didn’t deviate from all the sins that Jeroboam, Nebat’s son, had caused Israel to commit, but he walked in them! 12 The rest of Joash’s deeds, all that he accomplished, and his powerful acts—how he fought against Judah’s King Amaziah—aren’t they written in the official records of Israel’s kings? 13 Joash lay down with his ancestors, and Jeroboam followed him on the throne. Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

Elisha’s last days

14 Now Elisha became sick with the illness that would kill him. So Israel’s King Joash went down to see him. Joash cried over Elisha, saying, “Oh, my father, my father! Israel’s chariots and its riders!”

15 Elisha told Joash, “Get a bow and some arrows.” So he brought Elisha a bow and some arrows. 16 Elisha then said to Israel’s king, “Put your hand on the bow.” So Joash put his hand on the bow. Elisha then put his hands over the king’s hands 17 and said, “Open the window to the east.” The king did so. “Now shoot!” Elisha told him. Joash shot, then Elisha announced, “That’s the Lord’s rescue arrow! The rescue arrow against the Arameans! You will finish the Arameans off at Aphek.” 18 Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows!” so Joash took them. Elisha then said to Israel’s king, “Hit the ground with them!” Joash hit the ground three times and stopped. 19 The man of God became angry with him. He said, “If only you had struck five or six times, you would have finished the Arameans off. As it is, you will defeat them only three times.”

20 So Elisha died, and he was buried.

Sometimes Moabite raiding parties used to come into the land each spring. 21 Now it happened once that while a man was being buried, the people at the funeral suddenly saw a raiding party. They threw the body into Elisha’s tomb and ran off. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet!

22 Aram’s King Hazael had oppressed Israel throughout Jehoahaz’s rule. 23 But the Lord was gracious to Israel and had compassion on them, turning back to them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; he didn’t want to destroy them or throw them out of his presence until now. 24 Aram’s King Hazael died. His son Ben-hadad succeeded him as king. 25 Then Jehoahaz’s son Joash recaptured from Hazael’s son Ben-hadad those cities that Hazael had won in battle from Joash’s father Jehoahaz. Joash attacked Ben-hadad three times and took back these Israelite cities.

Amaziah rules Judah

14 Amaziah, the son of Judah’s King Jehoash,[o] became king in the second year of Israel’s King Joash, who was Jehoahaz’s son. 2 Amaziah was 25 years old when he became king, and he ruled for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddin; she was from Jerusalem. 3 He did what was right in the Lord’s eyes, but not as well as his ancestor King David. He did everything his father Jehoash did. 4 However, the shrines weren’t removed. People kept sacrificing and burning incense at them. 5 Once he had secured control over his kingdom, he executed the officials who had assassinated his father the king. 6 However, he didn’t kill the children of the murderers, because of what is written in the Instruction scroll from Moses, where the Lord commanded, Parents shouldn’t be executed because of what their children have done; neither should children be executed because of what their parents have done. Each person should be executed for their own guilty acts.[p]

7 Next Amaziah struck down ten thousand Edomites in the Salt Valley and captured Sela in battle. He renamed it Jokthe-el, which is what it is still called today. 8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Israel’s King Joash[q] son of Jehoahaz son of Israel’s King Jehu, saying, “Come on! Let’s go head-to-head.”

9 But Israel’s King Joash responded to Judah’s King Amaziah, “Once upon a time, a thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ But then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle. 10 You have definitely defeated Edom and have now become conceited. Enjoy the honor, but stay home. Why invite disaster when both you and Judah will fall?”

11 But Amaziah wouldn’t listen, so Israel’s King Joash moved against him, and he and Judah’s King Amaziah went head-to-head in battle at Beth-shemesh in Judah. 12 Judah was defeated by Israel, and everyone ran home. 13 At Beth-shemesh, Israel’s King Joash captured Judah’s King Amaziah, Jehoash’s son and Ahaziah’s grandson. Joash then marched to Jerusalem and broke down six hundred feet of the Jerusalem wall from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 14 Joash took all the gold and silver, and all the objects he could find in the Lord’s temple and the treasuries of the palace, along with some hostages and returned to Samaria. 15 The rest of Joash’s deeds and his powerful acts—how he fought against Judah’s King Amaziah—aren’t they written in the official records of Israel’s kings? 16 Joash lay down with his ancestors. He was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son Jeroboam succeeded him as king.

17 Judah’s King Amaziah, Jehoash’s son, lived fifteen years after the death of Israel’s King Joash, Jehoahaz’s son. 18 The rest of Amaziah’s deeds, aren’t they written in the official records of Judah’s kings? 19 Some people in Jerusalem plotted against him. When Amaziah fled to Lachish, they sent men after him to Lachish, and they murdered him there. 20 They carried him back on horses, and he was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors in David’s City.

21 Then all the people of Judah took Azariah and made him king after his father Amaziah. He was 16 years old. 22 He rebuilt Elath, restoring it to Judah after King Amaziah had lain down with his ancestors.

Jeroboam II rules Israel

23 Jeroboam, the son of Israel’s King Joash, became king in Samaria in the fifteenth year of Judah’s King Amaziah, Jehoash’s son. He ruled for forty-one years. 24 He did what was evil in the Lord’s eyes. He didn’t deviate from all the sins that Jeroboam, Nebat’s son, had caused Israel to commit. 25 He reestablished Israel’s border from Lebo-hamath to the Dead Sea. This was in agreement with the word that the Lord, the God of Israel, spoke through his servant the prophet Jonah, Amittai’s son, who was from Gath-hepher. 26 The Lord saw how brutally Israel suffered, whether slave or free, with no one to help Israel. 27 But the Lord hadn’t said he would erase Israel’s name from under heaven, so he saved them through Jeroboam, Joash’s son. 28 The rest of Jeroboam’s deeds, all that he accomplished, and his powerful acts—how he fought and how he restored Damascus and Hamath to Judah in Israel[r]—aren’t they written in the official records of Israel’s kings? 29 Jeroboam lay down with his ancestors the kings of Israel. His son Zechariah succeeded him as king.

Azariah rules Judah

15 Azariah, Amaziah’s son, became king of Judah in the twenty-seventh year of Israel’s King Jeroboam. 2 He was 16 years old when he became king, and he ruled for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 3 He did what was right in the Lord’s eyes, just as his father Amaziah had done. 4 However, the shrines weren’t removed. People kept sacrificing and burning incense at them. 5 Now the Lord afflicted the king with a skin disease that he had until his dying day, so he lived in a separate house.[s] The king’s son Jotham supervised the palace administration and governed the people of the land. 6 The rest of Azariah’s deeds and all he accomplished, aren’t they written in the official records of Judah’s kings? 7 Azariah died and was buried with his ancestors in David’s City. His son Jotham succeeded him as king.

Zechariah rules Israel

8 Zechariah, Jeroboam’s son, became king of Israel in Samaria in the thirty-eighth year of Judah’s King Azariah. He ruled for six months. 9 He did what was evil in the Lord’s eyes, just as his ancestors had done. He didn’t deviate from the sins that Jeroboam, Nebat’s son, had caused Israel to commit. 10 Shallum, Jabesh’s son, plotted against Zechariah. He struck him down in public,[t] murdering him. Shallum then succeeded him as king. 11 The rest of Zechariah’s deeds are written in the official records of Israel’s kings. 12 This was exactly what the Lord spoke to Jehu: Your descendants will sit on Israel’s throne for four generations. And that’s exactly what happened.

Shallum rules Israel

13 Shallum, Jabesh’s son, became king in the thirty-ninth year of Judah’s King Uzziah. He ruled for one month in Samaria. 14 Menahem, Gadi’s son, went up from Tirzah and came to Samaria. He struck down Jabesh’s son Shallum in Samaria, murdering him. Menahem then succeeded him as king. 15 The rest of Shallum’s deeds and the conspiracy he plotted are written in the official records of Israel’s kings.

Menahem rules Israel

16 Menahem then moved from Tirzah and attacked Tiphsah, all its citizens, and its neighboring areas. Because they wouldn’t surrender, he attacked and ripped open all its pregnant women. 17 Menahem, Gadi’s son, became king of Israel in the thirty-ninth year of Judah’s King Azariah. He ruled for ten years in Samaria. 18 He did what was evil in the Lord’s eyes. Throughout his life, he didn’t deviate from the sins that Jeroboam, Nebat’s son, had caused Israel to commit. 19 When Assyria’s King Tiglath-pileser[u] marched against the land, Menahem gave Tiglath-pileser one thousand silver kikkars in order to become his ally and to strengthen his hold on the kingdom. 20 Menahem taxed Israel for this money. All the wealthy people had to give fifty silver shekels each to Assyria’s king. So Assyria’s king went home and didn’t stay there in the land. 21 The rest of Menahem’s deeds and all that he accomplished, aren’t they written in the official records of Israel’s kings? 22 Menahem lay down with his ancestors. His son Pekahiah succeeded him as king.

Pekahiah rules Israel

23 Pekahiah, Menahem’s son, became king of Israel in the fiftieth year of Judah’s King Azariah. He ruled for two years in Samaria. 24 He did what was evil in the Lord’s eyes. He didn’t deviate from the sins that Jeroboam, Nebat’s son, had caused Israel to commit. 25 Pekah, Remaliah’s son and Pekahiah’s officer, plotted against him. Pekah struck Pekahiah in Samaria at the palace fortress, along with Argob and Arieh.[v] Pekah had fifty Gileadites with him. He murdered Pekahiah and succeeded him as king. 26 The rest of Pekahiah’s deeds and all that he accomplished are written in the official records of Israel’s kings.

Pekah rules Israel

27 Pekah, Remaliah’s son, became king of Israel in the fifty-second year of Judah’s King Azariah. Pekah ruled for twenty years in Samaria. 28 He did what was evil in the Lord’s eyes. He didn’t deviate from the sins that Jeroboam, Nebat’s son, had caused Israel to commit. 29 In the days of Israel’s King Pekah, Assyria’s King Tiglath-pileser came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, and Hazor. He also captured Gilead, Galilee, and all the land of Naphtali. He sent the people into exile to Assyria. 30 Then Hoshea, Elah’s son, plotted against Pekah, Remaliah’s son. He struck Pekah down, murdering him. Hoshea became king after Pekah in the twentieth year of Uzziah’s son Jotham. 31 The rest of Pekah’s kingship and all that he accomplished are written in the official records of Israel’s kings.

Jotham rules Judah

32 Jotham, Uzziah’s son, became king of Judah in the second year of Israel’s King Pekah, Remaliah’s son. 33 Jotham was 25 years old when he became king, and he ruled for sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha; she was Zadok’s daughter. 34 Jotham did what was right in the Lord’s eyes, just as his father Uzziah had done. 35 However, he didn’t remove the shrines. The people continued to sacrifice and burn incense at them. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the Lord’s temple. 36 The rest of Jotham’s deeds, aren’t they written in the official records of Judah’s kings? 37 It was in those days that the Lord began to send Aram’s King Rezin and Pekah, Remaliah’s son, against Judah. 38 Jotham died and was buried with his ancestors in David’s City.[w] His son Ahaz succeeded him as king.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 11:2 Heb Joram; the king’s name is usually spelled in its long form Jehoram (cf 2 Chron 22:11).
  2. 2 Kings 11:2 Heb Joash; the king’s name is variously spelled in either long Jehoash or short Joash form. The latter is the form used in 2 Chron.
  3. 2 Kings 11:2 See 2 Chron 22:11; Heb lacks hid.
  4. 2 Kings 11:6 Heb uncertain
  5. 2 Kings 11:12 Heb lacks royal.
  6. 2 Kings 11:15 Heb uncertain
  7. 2 Kings 11:21 12:1 in Heb
  8. 2 Kings 12:1 12:2 in Heb
  9. 2 Kings 12:4 Heb uncertain
  10. 2 Kings 12:11 Heb uncertain
  11. 2 Kings 12:19 Heb Joash (also in 12:20); the king’s name is variously spelled in either long Jehoash or short Joash form. The latter is the form used in 2 Chron.
  12. 2 Kings 13:1 Heb Joash (also in 13:10); the king’s name is variously spelled in either long Jehoash or short Joash form. The latter is the form used in 2 Chron.
  13. 2 Kings 13:6 Heb asherah, perhaps an object devoted to the goddess Asherah
  14. 2 Kings 13:10 Heb Jehoash (also in 13:25); the king’s name is variously spelled in either long Jehoash or short Joash form. The latter is the form used in 2 Chron.
  15. 2 Kings 14:1 Heb Joash (also in 14:3, 17, 23); the king’s name is variously spelled in either long Jehoash or short Joash form. The latter is the form used in 2 Chron.
  16. 2 Kings 14:6 Deut 24:16
  17. 2 Kings 14:8 Heb Jehoash (also in 14:9, 11, 13, 15, 16-17); the king’s name is variously spelled in either long Jehoash or short Joash form. The latter is the form used in 2 Chron.
  18. 2 Kings 14:28 Heb uncertain
  19. 2 Kings 15:5 Heb uncertain
  20. 2 Kings 15:10 LXX in Keblaam; Heb uncertain
  21. 2 Kings 15:19 Heb Pul
  22. 2 Kings 15:25 Heb uncertain
  23. 2 Kings 15:38 Heb adds his ancestor.
Listen to 2 Kings 11-15
Close NIV

2 Kings 11-15
New International Version

Athaliah and Joash(A)

11 When Athaliah(B) the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram[a] and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash(C) son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed.(D) 3 He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

4 In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the Carites(E) and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the Lord. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the Lord. Then he showed them the king’s son. 5 He commanded them, saying, “This is what you are to do: You who are in the three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath(F)—a third of you guarding the royal palace,(G) 6 a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the temple— 7 and you who are in the other two companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king. 8 Station yourselves around the king, each of you with weapon in hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks[b] is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

9 The commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields(H) that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the Lord. 11 The guards, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

12 Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant(I) and proclaimed him king. They anointed(J) him, and the people clapped their hands(K) and shouted, “Long live the king!”(L)

13 When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the Lord. 14 She looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar,(M) as the custom was. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.(N) Then Athaliah tore(O) her robes and called out, “Treason! Treason!”(P)

15 Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops: “Bring her out between the ranks[c] and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the temple(Q) of the Lord.” 16 So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter(R) the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.(S)

17 Jehoiada then made a covenant(T) between the Lord and the king and people that they would be the Lord’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.(U) 18 All the people of the land went to the temple(V) of Baal and tore it down. They smashed(W) the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest(X) of Baal in front of the altars.

Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the temple of the Lord. 19 He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites,(Y) the guards and all the people of the land, and together they brought the king down from the temple of the Lord and went into the palace, entering by way of the gate of the guards. The king then took his place on the royal throne. 20 All the people of the land rejoiced,(Z) and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace.

21 Joash[d] was seven years old when he began to reign.[e]

Joash Repairs the Temple(AA)

12 [f]In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash[g](AB) became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was right(AC) in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 The high places,(AD) however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

4 Joash said to the priests, “Collect(AE) all the money that is brought as sacred offerings(AF) to the temple of the Lord—the money collected in the census,(AG) the money received from personal vows and the money brought voluntarily(AH) to the temple. 5 Let every priest receive the money from one of the treasurers, then use it to repair(AI) whatever damage is found in the temple.”

6 But by the twenty-third year of King Joash the priests still had not repaired the temple. 7 Therefore King Joash summoned Jehoiada the priest and the other priests and asked them, “Why aren’t you repairing the damage done to the temple? Take no more money from your treasurers, but hand it over for repairing the temple.” 8 The priests agreed that they would not collect any more money from the people and that they would not repair the temple themselves.

9 Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid. He placed it beside the altar, on the right side as one enters the temple of the Lord. The priests who guarded the entrance(AJ) put into the chest all the money(AK) that was brought to the temple of the Lord. 10 Whenever they saw that there was a large amount of money in the chest, the royal secretary(AL) and the high priest came, counted the money that had been brought into the temple of the Lord and put it into bags. 11 When the amount had been determined, they gave the money to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. With it they paid those who worked on the temple of the Lord—the carpenters and builders, 12 the masons and stonecutters.(AM) They purchased timber and blocks of dressed stone for the repair of the temple of the Lord, and met all the other expenses of restoring the temple.

13 The money brought into the temple was not spent for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets or any other articles of gold(AN) or silver for the temple of the Lord; 14 it was paid to the workers, who used it to repair the temple. 15 They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty.(AO) 16 The money from the guilt offerings(AP) and sin offerings[h](AQ) was not brought into the temple of the Lord; it belonged(AR) to the priests.

17 About this time Hazael(AS) 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(AT) them to Hazael king of Aram, who then withdrew(AU) 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(AV) conspired against him and assassinated(AW) him at Beth Millo,(AX) 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(AY) 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(AZ) burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power(BA) of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad(BB) his son.

4 Then Jehoahaz sought(BC) the Lord’s favor, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw(BD) how severely the king of Aram was oppressing(BE) Israel. 5 The Lord provided a deliverer(BF) 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(BG) of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole[i](BH) remained standing in Samaria.

7 Nothing had been left(BI) 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(BJ) 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[j] 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(BK) king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals(BL) of the kings of Israel? 13 Jehoash rested with his ancestors, and Jeroboam(BM) 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(BN) and horsemen of Israel!”

15 Elisha said, “Get a bow and some arrows,”(BO) 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!”(BP) 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.”(BQ)

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.”(BR)

20 Elisha died and was buried.

Now Moabite raiders(BS) 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(BT) and stood up on his feet.

22 Hazael king of Aram oppressed(BU) 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(BV) with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy(BW) them or banish them from his presence.(BX)

24 Hazael king of Aram died, and Ben-Hadad(BY) 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(BZ) Jehoash defeated him, and so he recovered(CA) the Israelite towns.

Amaziah King of Judah(CB)(CC)

14 In the second year of Jehoash[k] 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,(CD) 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(CE) the officials(CF) 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(CG) 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.”[l](CH)

7 He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt(CI) and captured Sela(CJ) 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(CK) 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.(CL) 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(CM) in Judah. 12 Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home.(CN) 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(CO) of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate(CP) to the Corner Gate(CQ)—a section about four hundred cubits long.[m] 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(CR) 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(CS) against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish,(CT) but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. 20 He was brought back by horse(CU) and was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors, in the City of David.

21 Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,[n](CV) who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 22 He was the one who rebuilt Elath(CW) 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(CX) 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.(CY) 25 He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath(CZ) to the Dead Sea,[o](DA) in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah(DB) son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.

26 The Lord had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free,(DC) was suffering;[p](DD) there was no one to help them.(DE) 27 And since the Lord had not said he would blot out(DF) the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved(DG) 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(DH) and Hamath,(DI) which had belonged to Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals(DJ) 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(DK)

15 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah[q](DL) 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(DM) 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(DN) the king with leprosy[r] until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house.[s](DO) Jotham(DP) the king’s son had charge of the palace(DQ) 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(DR) with his ancestors and was buried near them in the City of David. And Jotham(DS) 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(DT) 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,[t] assassinated(DU) him and succeeded him as king. 11 The other events of Zechariah’s reign are written in the book of the annals(DV) of the kings of Israel. 12 So the word of the Lord spoken to Jehu was fulfilled:(DW) “Your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”[u]

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(DX) one month. 14 Then Menahem son of Gadi went from Tirzah(DY) up to Samaria. He attacked Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria, assassinated(DZ) 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(EA) of the kings of Israel.

16 At that time Menahem, starting out from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah(EB) and everyone in the city and its vicinity, because they refused to open(EC) 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(ED) 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[v](EE) king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents[w] 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[x] of silver to be given to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew(EF) 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(EG) 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(EH) son of Remaliah, conspired against him. Taking fifty men of Gilead with him, he assassinated(EI) 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(EJ) son of Remaliah(EK) 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(EL) king of Assyria came and took Ijon,(EM) Abel Beth Maakah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He took Gilead and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali,(EN) and deported(EO) the people to Assyria. 30 Then Hoshea(EP) son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked and assassinated(EQ) 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(ER) of the kings of Israel?

Jotham King of Judah(ES)

32 In the second year of Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham(ET) 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(EU) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Uzziah had done. 35 The high places,(EV) however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate(EW) 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(EX) 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.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 11:2 Hebrew Joram, a variant of Jehoram
  2. 2 Kings 11:8 Or approaches the precincts
  3. 2 Kings 11:15 Or out from the precincts
  4. 2 Kings 11:21 Hebrew Jehoash, a variant of Joash
  5. 2 Kings 11:21 In Hebrew texts this verse (11:21) is numbered 12:1.
  6. 2 Kings 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-21 is numbered 12:2-22.
  7. 2 Kings 12:1 Hebrew Jehoash, a variant of Joash; also in verses 2, 4, 6, 7 and 18
  8. 2 Kings 12:16 Or purification offerings
  9. 2 Kings 13:6 That is, a wooden symbol of the goddess Asherah; here and elsewhere in 2 Kings
  10. 2 Kings 13:9 Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash; also in verses 12-14 and 25
  11. 2 Kings 14:1 Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash; also in verses 13, 23 and 27
  12. 2 Kings 14:6 Deut. 24:16
  13. 2 Kings 14:13 That is, about 600 feet or about 180 meters
  14. 2 Kings 14:21 Also called Uzziah
  15. 2 Kings 14:25 Hebrew the Sea of the Arabah
  16. 2 Kings 14:26 Or Israel was suffering. They were without a ruler or leader, and
  17. 2 Kings 15:1 Also called Uzziah; also in verses 6, 7, 8, 17, 23 and 27
  18. 2 Kings 15:5 The Hebrew for leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  19. 2 Kings 15:5 Or in a house where he was relieved of responsibilities
  20. 2 Kings 15:10 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts in Ibleam
  21. 2 Kings 15:12 2 Kings 10:30
  22. 2 Kings 15:19 Also called Tiglath-Pileser
  23. 2 Kings 15:19 That is, about 38 tons or about 34 metric tons
  24. 2 Kings 15:20 That is, about 1 1/4 pounds or about 575 grams
Next
2 Kings 10
2 Kings 16
Next
dropdown
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

July Summer Surge

More on the NIV