Bible in 90 Days
Jehoiada Cuts a Covenant
16 Then (A)Jehoiada cut a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the people of Yahweh. 17 And all the people came to the house of Baal and tore it down, and his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they (B)killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18 And Jehoiada placed the assignments concerning the house of Yahweh in the hand of (C)the Levitical priests, (D)whom David had divided by lot to be over the house of Yahweh, to offer the burnt offerings of Yahweh, as it is written in the law of Moses—(E)with gladness and singing according to the [a]order of David. 19 And he caused (F)the gatekeepers of the house of Yahweh to stand, so that no one would enter who was in any way unclean. 20 (G)And he took the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of Yahweh, and they came through the upper gate to the king’s house. And they sat the king upon the royal throne. 21 So (H)all of the people of the land were glad, and the city was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword.
Joash Reigns over Judah
24 (I)Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Zibiah from Beersheba. 2 (J)And Joash did what was right in the sight of Yahweh all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 And Jehoiada took up two wives for him, and he became the father of sons and daughters.
The Levites Did Not Act Quickly
4 Now it happened afterwards, that Joash [b]had in his heart (K)to restore the house of Yahweh. 5 And he gathered the priests and Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and gather money from all (L)Israel to [c]repair the house of your God [d]annually, and you shall do the matter quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly. 6 So the king called for Jehoiada the chief priest and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and from Jerusalem (M)the levy fixed by Moses the servant of Yahweh on the congregation of Israel (N)for the tent of the testimony?” 7 For (O)the sons of the wicked Athaliah had broken into the house of God and even [e]used the holy things of the house of Yahweh for the Baals.
The House of Yahweh Restored
8 So the king said the word, and (P)they made a chest and put it outside by the gate of the house of Yahweh. 9 (Q)And they [f]made a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem to bring to Yahweh (R)the levy fixed by Moses the servant of God on Israel in the wilderness. 10 And all the officials and all the people were glad and brought in their levies and [g]dropped them into the chest until they had [h]finished. 11 Now it happened that whenever the chest was brought in to the king’s officer by the hand of the Levites, and when (S)they saw that there was much money, then the king’s scribe and the chief priest’s officer would come, empty the chest, take it, and return it to its place. Thus they did daily and collected much money. 12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of Yahweh; and they hired masons and [i]carpenters to restore the house of Yahweh, and also craftsmen in iron and bronze to [j]repair the house of Yahweh. 13 So those who did the work labored, and the repair work progressed in their hands, and they [k]restored the house of God [l]according to its specifications and strengthened it. 14 When they had completed, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; and it was made into utensils for the house of Yahweh, utensils for the ministry and the burnt offering, and pans and utensils of gold and silver. And they were offering burnt offerings in the house of Yahweh continually all the days of Jehoiada.
15 Then Jehoiada became old and full of days, and he died; he was 130 years old at his death. 16 They buried him (T)in the city of David among the kings, because he had done what is good in (U)Israel and [m]to God and His house.
17 But after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and bowed down to the king, and the king listened to them. 18 And they forsook (V)the house of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and (W)served the [n]Asherim and the idols; so (X)wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their guilt. 19 Yet (Y)He sent prophets to them to bring them back to Yahweh; though they testified against them, they did not give ear.
People Conspire Against Zechariah
20 (Z)Now the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘(AA)Why do you trespass against the commandments of Yahweh and do not succeed? (AB)Because you have forsaken Yahweh, He has also forsaken you.’” 21 So (AC)they conspired against him and at the command of the king they stoned him [o]to death in the court of the house of Yahweh. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the lovingkindness which his father Jehoiada had shown him, but he killed his son. And as he died he said, “May (AD)Yahweh see and [p]avenge!”
Aram Comes Up Against Judah
23 Now it happened at the turn of the year that (AE)the military force of the Arameans came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, destroyed all the officials of the people from among the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 Indeed the military force of the Arameans came with a small number of men; yet (AF)Yahweh gave a very great military force into their hands, (AG)because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.
25 (AH)When they had gone from him (for they left him very sick), his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the [q]son of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. 26 Now these are those who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess. 27 Now as to his sons and the many [r]oracles against him and (AI)the [s]rebuilding of the house of God, behold, they are written in the [t](AJ)treatise of the Book of the Kings. Then Amaziah his son became king in his place.
Amaziah Reigns over Judah
25 (AK)Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh, (AL)yet not with a whole heart. 3 Now (AM)it happened as soon as the kingdom was [u]strong in his grasp, that he killed his servants who had struck down the king his father. 4 But he did not put their sons to death, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, which Yahweh commanded, saying, “(AN)Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor sons be put to death for their fathers, but each shall be put to death for his own sin.”
Amaziah Is Strong in Battle
5 Moreover, Amaziah assembled Judah and appointed them according to their fathers’ households under commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds throughout Judah and Benjamin; and he [v]took a census of those (AO)from twenty years old and upward and found them to be (AP)300,000 choice men, able to go out for military duty, able to handle spear and large shield. 6 And he hired also 100,000 mighty men of valor out of Israel for one hundred [w]talents of silver. 7 But (AQ)a man of God came to him saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for Yahweh is not with Israel nor with any of the sons of Ephraim. 8 But if you do go, do it, be strong for the battle; yet God will cause you to stumble before the enemy, (AR)for God has power to help and to cause to stumble.” 9 Then Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God answered, “(AS)Yahweh has much more to give you than this.” 10 Then Amaziah [x]dismissed them, the troops which came to him from Ephraim, to go [y]home; so their anger burned against Judah and they returned [z]home in burning anger.
11 Now Amaziah strengthened himself and led his people forth, and went to (AT)the Valley of Salt and struck down 10,000 of the sons of Seir. 12 The sons of Judah also captured 10,000 alive and brought them to the top of the cliff and threw them down from the top of the cliff, so that they were all split open. 13 But the [aa]troops whom Amaziah sent back from going with him to battle, raided the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Beth-horon, and struck down 3,000 of them and plundered much plunder.
Amaziah Worships the Edomites’ Gods
14 Now it happened that after Amaziah came from striking down the Edomites, (AU)he brought the gods of the sons of Seir, set them up as his gods, worshiped them, and burned incense to them. 15 Then the anger of Yahweh burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people (AV)who have not delivered their own people from your hand?” 16 Now it happened that as he was talking with him, [ab]the king said to him, “Have we given you to be a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” Then the prophet stopped and said, “I know that God has counseled to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”
Amaziah Defeated by Joash of Israel
17 (AW)Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, the king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us face each other.” 18 And Joash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “(AX)The thorn bush which was in Lebanon sent to the cedar which was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ But a beast of the field that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thorn bush. 19 You said, ‘Behold, you have struck down Edom.’ And (AY)your heart has lifted you up to boast. Now stay at home; for why should you provoke calamity so that you, even you, would fall and Judah with you?”
20 But Amaziah would not listen, for it was from God, that He might give them into the hand of Joash because they had sought the gods of Edom. 21 So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh, which belonged to Judah. 22 And Judah was [ac]defeated by Israel, and they fled each to his tent. 23 Then Joash king of Israel seized Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of (AZ)Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, [ad]400 cubits. 24 And he took all the gold and silver and all the utensils which were found in the house of God with (BA)Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.
25 (BB)And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived fifteen years after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from first to last, behold, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel? 27 Now from the time that Amaziah turned away from following Yahweh they conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and put him to death there. 28 Then they carried him on horses and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.
Uzziah Reigns over Judah
26 And all the people of Judah took [ae]Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah. 2 He built Eloth and restored it to Judah after the king slept with his fathers. 3 Uzziah was (BC)sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was [af]Jechiliah of Jerusalem. 4 And he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 5 (BD)And he continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, (BE)who had understanding [ag]through the vision of God; and [ah](BF)as long as he sought Yahweh, God made him succeed.
Uzziah’s Fame Spreads Afar
6 Then he went out and (BG)fought against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the area of Ashdod and among the Philistines. 7 (BH)And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur-baal, and the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites also gave (BI)tribute to Uzziah, and his [ai]fame extended to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong. 9 Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at (BJ)the Corner Gate and at the (BK)Valley Gate and at the corner buttress and strengthened them. 10 He also built towers in the wilderness and (BL)hewed many cisterns, for he had much livestock, both in the [aj]Shephelah and in the plain. He also had plowmen and vinedressers in the hill country and the fertile fields, for he loved the soil. 11 Moreover, Uzziah had a military force which could wage war, which went out for military duty by divisions according to the number of their muster, prepared by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s officials. 12 The total number of the heads of the [ak]households, of mighty men of valor, was 2,600. 13 And under their hand was a [al]mighty army of (BM)307,500, who could wage war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 Moreover, Uzziah prepared [am]for all the army shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and stones for slings. 15 In Jerusalem he also made devices of war devised by skillful designers to be on the towers and on the corners for the purpose of shooting arrows and great stones. Hence his [an]fame spread afar, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong.
Uzziah’s Pride
16 But (BN)when he became strong, his heart was so [ao]proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to Yahweh his God. And (BO)he entered the temple of Yahweh to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Then (BP)Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of Yahweh, men of valor. 18 (BQ)And they stood against Uzziah the king and said to him, “(BR)It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to Yahweh, (BS)but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are set apart as holy to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from Yahweh God.” 19 But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, (BT)the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of Yahweh, beside the altar of incense. 20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous on his forehead; and they hurried him out of there, and he himself also hastened to get out because Yahweh had smitten him. 21 (BU)So King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death; and he lived in (BV)a separate house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the house of Yahweh. And Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.
22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first to last, the prophet (BW)Isaiah, the son of Amoz, has written. 23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers (BX)in the field of the grave which belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” And Jotham his son became king in his place.
Jotham Reigns over Judah
27 (BY)Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his father Uzziah had done; (BZ)however he did not enter the temple of Yahweh. But the people continued acting corruptly. 3 He built the upper gate of the house of Yahweh, and he built extensively the wall of (CA)Ophel. 4 Moreover, he built (CB)cities in the hill country of Judah, and he built fortresses and towers on the wooded hills. 5 He fought also with the king of the sons of Ammon and prevailed over them. So the sons of Ammon gave him during that year [ap]100 talents of silver, [aq]10,000 kors of wheat, and 10,000 of barley. The sons of Ammon also brought back to him this amount in the second and in the third year. 6 (CC)So Jotham became strong because he established his ways before Yahweh his God. 7 (CD)Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, even all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was (CE)twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Ahaz his son became king in his place.
Ahaz Reigns over Judah
28 (CF)Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and (CG)he did not do what was right in the sight of Yahweh, as David his father had done. 2 (CH)But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; he also (CI)made molten images for the Baals. 3 Moreover, (CJ)he offered offerings in smoke in the valley of Ben-hinnom and (CK)burned his sons in the fire, (CL)according to the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh had dispossessed from before the sons of Israel. 4 He also sacrificed and (CM)offered offerings in smoke on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.
Judah Carried Away by Aram
5 So, (CN)Yahweh his God gave him into the hand of the king of Aram; and they struck him and carried away from him a great number of captives and brought them to Damascus. And he was also given into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter. 6 Indeed, (CO)Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah 120,000 in one day, all men of valor, because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their fathers. 7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son and Azrikam the ruler of the house and Elkanah the second to the king.
8 (CP)Then the sons of Israel carried away captive of (CQ)their brothers 200,000 women, sons, and daughters; and they plundered also a great deal of spoil from them and brought the spoil to Samaria. 9 But a prophet of Yahweh was there, whose name was Oded; and (CR)he went out before the army which came to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because of the (CS)wrath of Yahweh, the God of your fathers, against Judah, He has given them into your hand, and you have killed them in a rage (CT)which has even reached heaven. 10 So now you are [ar]intending to (CU)subdue for yourselves the people of Judah and Jerusalem for male and female slaves. Surely, do you not have your own matters of guilt against Yahweh your God? 11 So now, listen to me and return the captives (CV)whom you carried away from your brothers, (CW)for the burning anger of Yahweh is against you.” 12 Then some of the heads of the sons of Ephraim—Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai—arose against those who were coming from the engagement of the army, 13 and said to them, “You must not bring the captives in here, for you are [as]intending to bring upon us guilt against Yahweh adding to our sins and our guilt; for our guilt is great so that His burning anger is against Israel.” 14 So the armed men left the captives and the plunder before the commanders and all the assembly. 15 Then (CX)the men who were designated by name arose, took hold of the captives, and they clothed all their naked ones from the spoil; and they gave them clothes and sandals, fed them and (CY)gave them drink, anointed them with oil, led all their feeble ones on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, (CZ)the city of palm trees, to their brothers; then they returned to Samaria.
Ahaz Sends to Assyria for Help
16 (DA)At that time King Ahaz sent to the [at]kings of Assyria for help. 17 (DB)Indeed, again the Edomites had come and struck Judah and carried away captives. 18 (DC)And the Philistines also had raided the cities of the [au]Shephelah and of the [av]Negev of Judah, and had captured Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, and Soco with its towns, Timnah with its towns, and Gimzo with its towns, and they settled there. 19 For Yahweh humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of (DD)Israel, for he had caused it to be out of control in Judah and was very unfaithful to Yahweh. 20 So (DE)Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came against him and distressed him instead of strengthening him. 21 (DF)Although Ahaz took a portion out of the house of Yahweh and out of the house of the king and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.
22 Now in the time of his distress this same King Ahaz (DG)became yet more unfaithful to Yahweh. 23 (DH)Indeed, he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had struck him, and said, “(DI)Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they became the stumbling of him and all Israel. 24 Ahaz gathered together the utensils of the house of God. Then he (DJ)cut the utensils of the house of God in pieces; and he (DK)closed the doors of the house of Yahweh and (DL)made altars for himself in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 Now in each and every city of Judah he made high places to offer offerings in smoke to other gods, and provoked Yahweh, the God of his fathers, to anger. 26 (DM)Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 27 (DN)So Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, for they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of (DO)Israel; and Hezekiah his son became king in his place.
Hezekiah Reigns over Judah
29 (DP)Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2 (DQ)And he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that David his father had done.
3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he (DR)opened the doors of the house of Yahweh and repaired them. 4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites and gathered them into the square on the east.
Hezekiah Sets the House of God as Holy
5 Then he said to them, “Listen to me, O Levites. (DS)Set yourselves apart now as holy, and set apart as holy the house of Yahweh, the God of your fathers, and bring out the impurity from the holy place. 6 For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what is evil in the sight of Yahweh our God, and have forsaken Him and (DT)turned their faces away from the dwelling place of Yahweh, and have [aw]turned their backs. 7 They have also (DU)shut the doors of the porch and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore (DV)the wrath of Yahweh was against Judah and Jerusalem, and He has made them an object of terror, of horror, and of (DW)hissing, as you see with your own eyes. 9 And behold, (DX)our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10 Now it is in my heart (DY)to cut a covenant with Yahweh, the God of Israel, that His burning anger may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not be at ease now, for (DZ)Yahweh has chosen you to stand before Him, to minister to Him, and to be His ministers and offer offerings up in smoke.”
12 Then the Levites arose:
(EA)Mahath, the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, from the sons of (EB)the Kohathites;
and from the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel;
and from the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah;
13 and from the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and [ax]Jeiel;
and from the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah;
14 and from the sons of Heman, [ay]Jehiel and Shimei;
and from the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.
15 And they gathered their brothers, (EC)set themselves apart as holy, and went in (ED)to cleanse the house of Yahweh, according to the commandment of the king (EE)by the words of Yahweh. 16 So the priests went in to the inner part of the house of Yahweh to cleanse it, and every unclean thing which they found in the temple of Yahweh they brought out to the court of the house of Yahweh. Then the Levites received it to bring out to (EF)the Kidron [az]valley, to an outer area. 17 Then they began [ba]to set it apart as holy (EG)on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they entered the porch of Yahweh. Then they set apart the house of Yahweh as holy in eight days, and completed it on the sixteenth day of the first month. 18 Then they went in to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed the whole house of Yahweh, the altar of burnt offering with all of its utensils, and the table of showbread with all of its utensils. 19 Moreover, (EH)all the utensils which King Ahaz had rejected during his reign in his unfaithfulness, we have prepared and set apart as holy; and behold, they are before the altar of Yahweh.”
Hezekiah Brings an Offering
20 Then King Hezekiah arose early and gathered the princes of the city and went up to the house of Yahweh. 21 And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats (EI)for a sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and Judah. And he ordered the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of Yahweh. 22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and splashed it on the altar. They also slaughtered the rams and splashed the blood on the altar; they slaughtered the lambs also and (EJ)splashed the blood on the altar. 23 Then they had the male goats of the sin offering approach before the king and the assembly, and (EK)they laid their hands on them. 24 And the priests slaughtered them and purged the altar with their blood (EL)to atone for all Israel, for the king ordered the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel.
25 (EM)He then caused the Levites to stand in the house of Yahweh with cymbals, with harps, and with lyres, (EN)according to the command of David and of (EO)Gad the king’s seer, and of (EP)Nathan the prophet; for the command was from Yahweh by the hand of His prophets. 26 And the Levites stood with (EQ)the musical instruments of David, and (ER)the priests with the trumpets. 27 Then Hezekiah said to offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering began, (ES)the song to Yahweh also began with the trumpets, [bb]accompanied by the instruments of David, king of Israel. 28 While the whole assembly worshiped, the singers also sang and the trumpets sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was completed.
29 Now at the completion of the burnt offerings, (ET)the king and all who were present with him bowed down and worshiped. 30 Moreover, King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to Yahweh with the words of David and Asaph the seer. (EU)So they sang praises with gladness, and bowed down and worshiped.
31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, “(EV)Now that you have [bc]become ordained to Yahweh, approach and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of Yahweh.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and (EW)all those who were willing of heart brought burnt offerings. 32 And the number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to Yahweh. 33 And the holy things were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep. 34 But the priests were too few, so that they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; (EX)therefore their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was completed and until the other priests had set themselves apart as holy. For (EY)the Levites were more upright of heart to set themselves apart as holy than the priests. 35 There were also [bd](EZ)many burnt offerings with (FA)the fat of the peace offerings and with (FB)the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of Yahweh was established again. 36 Then Hezekiah and all the people were glad over what God had prepared for the people, because the thing came about suddenly.
Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover
30 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem to [be]celebrate the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel. 2 And the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had taken counsel (FC)to celebrate the Passover in the second month, 3 since they could not celebrate it (FD)at that time, because the priests had not set themselves apart as holy in sufficient numbers, nor had the people been gathered to Jerusalem. 4 Thus the thing was right in the eyes of the king and in the eyes of all the assembly. 5 So they established a decree to make a [bf]proclamation pass throughout all Israel (FE)from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to celebrate the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem. For they had not celebrated it in great numbers as it was written. 6 (FF)And the [bg]couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the hand of the king and his princes, even according to the commandment of the king, saying, “O sons of Israel, return to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that He may return to those of you who escaped and remain from (FG)the [bh]hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 (FH)Now do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were unfaithful to Yahweh, the God of their fathers, so that (FI)He made them an object of horror, as you see. 8 Now do not (FJ)stiffen your neck like your fathers, but give your hand to Yahweh and enter His sanctuary which He has set apart as holy forever, and serve Yahweh your God, (FK)that His burning anger may turn away from you. 9 For (FL)when you return to Yahweh, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land. (FM)For Yahweh your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”
10 So the [bi]couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but (FN)they were laughing at them to scorn and mocking them. 11 Nevertheless (FO)some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 The (FP)hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of Yahweh.
13 Now many people were gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread (FQ)in the second month, a very large assembly. 14 And they arose and took away the altars which were in Jerusalem; they also (FR)took away all the incense altars and (FS)cast them into the brook Kidron. 15 Then (FT)they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth of the second month. And (FU)the priests and Levites were ashamed of themselves, and set themselves apart as holy and brought burnt offerings to the house of Yahweh. 16 (FV)And they stood at their stations according to the legal judgment for them, according to the law of Moses the man of God; the priests splashed the blood which they received from the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the assembly who had not set themselves apart as holy; therefore, (FW)the Levites were over the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was unclean, in order to set them apart as holy to Yahweh. 18 For a multitude of the people, (FX)even many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, (FY)yet they ate the Passover (FZ)otherwise than what was written. For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May Yahweh, who is good, atone 19 (GA)for everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, Yahweh, the God of his fathers, though not according to the rules of cleansing of the sanctuary.” 20 So Yahweh heard Hezekiah and (GB)healed the people. 21 And the sons of Israel present in Jerusalem (GC)celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised Yahweh day after day with loud instruments to Yahweh. 22 Then Hezekiah (GD)spoke to the hearts of all the Levites who showed good insight in the things of Yahweh. So they ate for the appointed seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and (GE)giving thanks to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
23 Then the whole assembly (GF)took counsel to determine to celebrate the feast another seven days, so they celebrated the seven days with gladness. 24 For (GG)Hezekiah king of Judah had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep, and the princes had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep; and (GH)a large number of priests set themselves apart as holy. 25 And all the assembly of Judah were glad, with the priests and the Levites and (GI)all the assembly that came from Israel, both the sojourners who came from the land of Israel and those living in Judah. 26 So there was great gladness in Jerusalem, because there was nothing like this in Jerusalem (GJ)since the days of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel. 27 Then (GK)the Levitical priests arose and (GL)blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer came to (GM)His holy habitation, to heaven.
31 Now when all this was completed, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, (GN)shattered the pillars, cut the [bj]Asherim in pieces, and tore down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until the destruction was completed. Then all the sons of Israel returned to their cities, each to his possession.
Hezekiah Sets Up Priests for Service
2 And Hezekiah set up (GO)the divisions of the priests and the Levites by their divisions, each according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, (GP)for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister and to give thanks and to praise in the gates of the camp of Yahweh. 3 He also appointed (GQ)the king’s portion of his goods for the burnt offerings, namely, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths and for the new moons and for the appointed times, (GR)as it is written in the law of Yahweh. 4 Also he said to the people who lived in Jerusalem to give (GS)the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might be strong in (GT)the law of Yahweh. 5 As soon as the word spread forth, the sons of Israel provided in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly (GU)the tithe of all. 6 Now the sons of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and (GV)the tithe of the holy gifts which were made holy to Yahweh their God, and put them in heaps. 7 In the third month they began to [bk]make the heaps, and completed them by the seventh month. 8 Then Hezekiah and the rulers came and saw the heaps, and they blessed Yahweh and (GW)His people Israel. 9 Then Hezekiah inquired of the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 10 And Azariah the chief priest (GX)of the house of Zadok said to [bl]him, “(GY)Since the contributions began to be brought into the house of Yahweh, there has been much to eat and be satisfied with and have left over, for Yahweh has blessed His people, and this great quantity is left over.”
11 Then Hezekiah ordered them to prepare (GZ)rooms in the house of Yahweh, and they prepared them. 12 And they faithfully brought in the contribution and the tithe and the holy things; and Conaniah the Levite was the officer over (HA)them and his brother Shimei was second. 13 Now Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers [bm]assisting at the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his brother by the appointment of King Hezekiah, and (HB)Azariah was the chief officer of the house of God. 14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the eastern gate, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the contributions for Yahweh and the most holy things. 15 Now assisting [bn]by his hand were (HC)Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah in (HD)the cities of the priests, to distribute faithfully their portions to their brothers by divisions, whether great or small, 16 without regard to their genealogical record, to the males from [bo](HE)thirty years old and upward—everyone who entered the house of Yahweh (HF)for his daily obligations—for their service in their responsibilities according to their divisions; 17 as well as the priests who were recorded genealogically according to their fathers’ households, and the Levites (HG)from twenty years old and upwards, by their responsibilities and their divisions. 18 The genealogical record included [bp]all their little ones, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, for the whole assembly, for they set themselves apart [bq]faithfully in holiness. 19 Also for the sons of Aaron the priests who were in (HH)the pasture lands of their cities, or in each and every city, (HI)there were men who were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to everyone genealogically recorded among the Levites.
20 Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah; and (HJ)he did what was good, right, and true before Yahweh his God. 21 And every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment—to seek his God—he did with all his heart and (HK)succeeded.
Sennacherib Invades Judah
32 After these [br]acts of faithfulness (HL)Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, and [bs]thought to break into them for himself. 2 Then Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he had set his face to make war on Jerusalem, 3 and he took counsel with his commanders and his warriors to stop up the supply of water from the springs which were outside the city, and they helped him. 4 So many people gathered (HM)and stopped up all the springs and (HN)the stream which flowed in the midst of the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find abundant water?” 5 And he strengthened himself and (HO)rebuilt all the wall that had been broken down and [bt]erected towers on it, and built (HP)another outside wall and strengthened the [bu](HQ)Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in great number. 6 He also put military commanders over the people and gathered them to him in the square at the city gate, and (HR)spoke to their hearts, saying, 7 “(HS)Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the multitude that is with him; (HT)for the one with us is greater than the one with him. 8 With him is only (HU)an arm of flesh, but (HV)with us is Yahweh our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were sustained by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
Sennacherib Reproaches Yahweh
9 After this (HW)Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem while he was [bv]besieging Lachish with all his forces with him, against Hezekiah king of Judah and against all Judah who were at Jerusalem, saying, 10 “Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, ‘On what are you trusting that you are remaining in Jerusalem under siege? 11 Is not Hezekiah inciting you to give yourselves over to die by hunger and by thirst, saying, “Yahweh our God will deliver us from the [bw]hand of the king of Assyria”? 12 (HX)Has not the same Hezekiah taken away His high places and His altars, and said to Judah and [bx]Jerusalem, “You shall worship before one altar, and on it you shall offer offerings up in smoke”? 13 Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? (HY)Were the gods of the nations of the lands able at all to deliver their land from my hand? 14 (HZ)Who was there among all the gods of these nations which my fathers devoted to destruction, who could deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand? 15 So now, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or incite you like this, and do not believe him, for (IA)no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand?’”
16 His servants spoke further against Yahweh God and against His servant Hezekiah. 17 He also wrote letters to [by]reproach Yahweh, the God of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying, “(IB)As the gods of the nations of the lands [bz]have not delivered their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver His people from my hand.” 18 (IC)And they called this out with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to instill fear and terrify them, so that they might capture the city. 19 And they spoke [ca]of the God of Jerusalem as of (ID)the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of men’s hands.
Yahweh Wipes Out the Men of Assyria
20 But King Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed about this and cried out to heaven. 21 And Yahweh sent an angel who wiped out every mighty man of valor, ruler, and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned [cb]in shame to his own land. And he entered the house of his god, and some of [cc]his own children caused him to fall there by the sword. 22 So Yahweh (IE)saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all others, and He [cd]guided them on every side. 23 And (IF)many were bringing presents to Yahweh at Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that (IG)he was lifted up in the sight of all nations thereafter.
24 (IH)In those days Hezekiah became sick to the point of death; and he prayed to Yahweh, and [ce]Yahweh spoke to him and gave him a miraculous sign. 25 But Hezekiah gave no return for the benefit [cf]he received, (II)because his heart was [cg]proud; (IJ)therefore wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. 26 However, (IK)Hezekiah [ch]humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of Yahweh did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.
27 Now Hezekiah had abundant riches and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of desirable articles, 28 storehouses also for the produce of grain, wine, and oil, stalls for all kinds of cattle, and [ci]sheepfolds for the flocks. 29 He also made cities for himself and acquired flocks and herds in abundance, for (IL)God had given him exceedingly abundant [cj]wealth. 30 And it was Hezekiah who (IM)stopped the upper outlet of the waters of (IN)Gihon and directed them to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah succeeded in all that he did. 31 Even in the matter of (IO)the envoys of the rulers of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of (IP)the miraculous sign that had happened in the land, God left him alone only (IQ)to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.
32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his deeds of lovingkindness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 33 So Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the [ck]upper section of the tombs of the sons of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem (IR)honored him at his death. And Manasseh his son became king in his place.
Manasseh Reigns over Judah
33 (IS)Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. 2 (IT)And he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh dispossessed before the sons of Israel. 3 Indeed, (IU)he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had torn down; and (IV)he erected altars for the Baals and made [cl]Asherim, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. 4 (IW)And he built altars in the house of Yahweh, of which Yahweh had said, “(IX)In Jerusalem My name shall be forever.” 5 Indeed, he built altars for all the host of heaven in (IY)the two courts of the house of Yahweh. 6 (IZ)He even made his sons pass through the fire in the valley of Ben-hinnom; and he practiced soothsaying, interpreted omens, practiced sorcery, and (JA)dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much that was evil in the sight of Yahweh, provoking Him to anger. 7 Then he put (JB)the graven image of the [cm]idol, which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, “(JC)In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever. 8 And I will not again remove the foot of Israel from the land (JD)which I have set up for your fathers, if only they will be careful to do all that I have commanded them according to all the law, the statutes and the judgments given by the hand of Moses.” 9 Thus Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray in order to do more evil than the nations whom Yahweh destroyed before the sons of Israel.
Manasseh Removes Foreign Idols
10 Then Yahweh spoke to Manasseh and his people, but (JE)they paid no attention. 11 (JF)Therefore Yahweh brought the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria against them, and they captured Manasseh with [cn]hooks, (JG)bound him with bronze chains, and took him to Babylon. 12 And when (JH)he was in distress, he entreated Yahweh his God and (JI)humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13 Then he prayed to Him, and (JJ)He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and returned him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh (JK)knew that Yahweh was God.
14 Afterwards, he built the outer wall of the city of David on the west side of (JL)Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance of the (JM)Fish Gate; and he encircled the (JN)Ophel with it and made it very high. Then he put military commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah. 15 He also (JO)removed the foreign gods and the [co]idol from the house of Yahweh, as well as all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of Yahweh and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside the city. 16 And he set up the altar of Yahweh and sacrificed (JP)peace offerings and thank offerings on it; and he said for Judah to serve Yahweh, the God of Israel. 17 Nevertheless (JQ)the people still sacrificed in the high places, although only to Yahweh their God.
18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, even (JR)his prayer to his God, and the words of (JS)the seers who spoke to him in the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, behold, they are among the chronicles of the kings of (JT)Israel. 19 His prayer also and (JU)how God was entreated by him, and all his sin, his unfaithfulness, and (JV)the sites on which he built high places and erected the [cp]Asherim and the graven images, before he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the chronicles of the [cq]Hozai. 20 And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house. And Amon his son became king in his place.
Amon Reigns over Judah
21 (JW)Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. 22 And he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as Manasseh his father (JX)had done, and Amon sacrificed to all (JY)the graven images which his father Manasseh had made, and he served them. 23 Moreover, he did not humble himself before Yahweh (JZ)as his father Manasseh had humbled himself, but Amon multiplied guilt. 24 Then (KA)his servants conspired against him and put him to death in his own house. 25 Then the people of the land struck down all those who had conspired against King Amon, and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.
Josiah Reigns over Judah
34 (KB)Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. 2 (KC)And he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left. 3 Now in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to (KD)seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began (KE)to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, the graven images, and the molten images. 4 And they tore down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and (KF)the incense altars that were high above them he cut in pieces; also the Asherim, the graven images, and the molten images he broke in pieces and (KG)ground to powder and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 Then (KH)he burned the bones of the priests on their altars and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. 6 (KI)And in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, even as far as Naphtali, in their surrounding [cr]ruins, 7 he also tore down the altars and (KJ)beat the Asherim and the graven images into powder, and cut in pieces all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
Josiah Repairs the House of Yahweh
8 (KK)Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had cleansed the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah (KL)an official of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of Yahweh his God. 9 And they came to (KM)Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the [cs]doorkeepers, had gathered from the hand of (KN)Manasseh and Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 Then they gave it into the hand of [ct]those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of Yahweh; and those who did the work, who were doing this in the house of Yahweh, [cu]used it to restore and repair the house. 11 They in turn gave it to the craftsmen and to the builders to buy hewn stone and timber for clamps and to make beams for the houses (KO)which the kings of Judah had let go to ruin. 12 (KP)And the men did the work faithfully with foremen over them to direct: Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites of the sons of Merari, Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of the Kohathites, and (KQ)the Levites, all who were skillful with musical instruments. 13 They were also over (KR)those who carried loads, and directed all those who did the work from service to service; and some of the Levites were scribes and officials and gatekeepers.
Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law
14 When they were taking out the money which had been brought into the house of Yahweh, (KS)Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of Yahweh given by the hand of Moses. 15 So Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the house of Yahweh.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan. 16 Then Shaphan brought the book to the king and furthermore [cv]responded to the king with a word, saying, “Everything that was given to the hand of your servants they are doing. 17 They have also poured out the money that was found in the house of Yahweh, and have given it into the hand of the supervisors and those who did the work.” 18 Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, “Hilkiah the priest gave me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
19 Now it happened that when the king heard (KT)the words of the law, (KU)he tore his clothes. 20 Then the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, [cw]Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 21 “Go, inquire of Yahweh for me and those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book which has been found, for (KV)great is the wrath of Yahweh which is poured out against us, because our fathers have not kept the word of Yahweh, to do according to all that is written in this book.”
Josiah Will Not See Yahweh’s Wrath
22 So Hilkiah and those whom the king [cx]had told went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of [cy]Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter); and they spoke to her regarding this. 23 And she said to them, “Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Say to the man who sent you to Me, 24 thus says Yahweh, “Behold, (KW)I am bringing evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all (KX)the curses written in the book which they have read in the presence of the king of Judah. 25 (KY)Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore My wrath will be poured out against this place, and it shall not be quenched.”’ 26 But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, thus you shall say to him, ‘Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, “Regarding the words which you have heard, 27 (KZ)because your heart was soft and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares Yahweh. 28 “Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, so your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.”’” So they brought back word to the king.
29 (LA)Then the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 And the king went up to the house of Yahweh and (LB)all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests and the Levites and all the people, from the greatest to the least; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of Yahweh.
Josiah Cuts a Covenant with Yahweh
31 Then the king (LC)stood in his place and (LD)cut a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to do the words of the covenant that were written in this book. 32 Moreover, he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand with him. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. 33 And Josiah (LE)took away all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the sons of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel to serve Yahweh their God. Throughout his [cz]lifetime they did not turn away from following Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
Josiah Celebrates the Passover
35 Then Josiah (LF)celebrated the Passover to Yahweh in Jerusalem, and (LG)they slaughtered the Passover animals on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2 And he caused the priests to stand in their responsibilities and (LH)strengthened them in the service of the house of Yahweh. 3 He also said to (LI)the Levites who provided understanding to all Israel and who were holy to Yahweh, “Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built; (LJ)it will be a burden on your shoulders no longer. Now serve Yahweh your God and His people Israel. 4 (LK)So prepare yourselves by your fathers’ households in your divisions, according to the writing of David king of Israel and (LL)according to the writing of his son Solomon. 5 Moreover, (LM)stand in the holy place according to the sections of the fathers’ households of your brothers the [da]lay people, and according to the Levites, by division of a father’s household. 6 Now (LN)slaughter the Passover animals, (LO)sanctify yourselves and prepare for your brothers to do according to the word of Yahweh by the hand of Moses.”
7 And Josiah contributed to the lay people, to all who were present, flocks of lambs and young goats, all for the Passover offerings, numbering 30,000 plus 3,000 bulls; these were from the king’s possessions. 8 His officials also contributed a freewill offering to the people, the priests, and the Levites. Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, (LP)the officers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the Passover offerings 2,600 from the flocks and 300 bulls. 9 (LQ)Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the [db]officials of the Levites, contributed to the Levites for the Passover offerings 5,000 from the flocks and 500 bulls.
10 So the service was prepared, and (LR)the priests stood at their stations and the Levites by their divisions according to the king’s commandment. 11 (LS)And [dc]they slaughtered the Passover animals, and while (LT)the priests splashed [dd]the blood received from their hand, (LU)the Levites skinned them. 12 Then they took away the portions for the burnt offerings that they might give them to the sections of the fathers’ households of the lay people to bring near to Yahweh, as it is written in the book of Moses. They did this also with the bulls. 13 So (LV)they roasted the Passover animals on the fire according to the legal judgment, and they boiled (LW)the holy things in pots, in kettles, in pans, and carried them speedily to all the lay people. 14 Afterwards they prepared for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the sons of Aaron, were offering the burnt offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron. 15 The singers, the sons of Asaph, were also at their stations (LX)according to the commandment of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer; and (LY)the gatekeepers at each gate did not have to turn aside from their service, because the Levites their brothers prepared for them.
Legacy Standard Bible Copyright ©2021 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org For Permission to Quote Information visit https://www.LSBible.org.