The World English Bible (WEB)

Chapter 40

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6:4 So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood. 6:5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried, and said, Alas, my master! for it was borrowed. 6:6 The man of G.o.d asked, "Where did it fall?" He showed him the place. He cut down a stick, threw it in there, and made the iron float. 6:7 He said, "Take it." So he put out his hand and took it.

6:8 Now the king of Syria was warring against Israel; and he took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 6:9 The man of G.o.d sent to the king of Israel, saying, Beware that you not pa.s.s such a place; for there the Syrians are coming down. 6:10 The king of Israel sent to the place which the man of G.o.d told him and warned him of; and he saved himself there, not once nor twice. 6:11 The heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said to them, Won"t you show me which of us is for the king of Israel? 6:12 One of his servants said, No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedchamber. 6:13 He said, Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him. It was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 6:14 Therefore sent he there horses, and chariots, and a great army: and they came by night, and surrounded the city. 6:15 When the servant of the man of G.o.d was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an army with horses and chariots was around the city. His servant said to him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 6:16 He answered, Don"t be afraid; for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. 6:17 Elisha prayed, and said, Yahweh, Please open his eyes, that he may see. Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha. 6:18 When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to Yahweh, and said, Please smite this people with blindness. He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 6:19 Elisha said to them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. He led them to Samaria. 6:20 It happened, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Yahweh, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. Yahweh opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 6:21 The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I strike them? shall I strike them? 6:22 He answered, You shall not strike them: would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. 6:23 He prepared great provision for them; and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. The bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel. 6:24 It happened after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up, and besieged Samaria. 6:25 There was a great famine in Samaria: and behold, they besieged it, until a donkey"s head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove"s dung for five pieces of silver. 6:26 As the king of Israel was pa.s.sing by on the wall, there cried a woman to him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. 6:27 He said, If Yahweh doesn"t help you, whence shall I help you? out of the threshing floor, or out of the winepress?

6:28 The king said to her, What ails you? She answered, This woman said to me, Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow. 6:29 So we boiled my son, and ate him: and I said to her on the next day, Give your son, that we may eat him; and she has hid her son. 6:30 It happened, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he tore his clothes (now he was pa.s.sing by on the wall); and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth within on his flesh. 6:31 Then he said, G.o.d do so to me, and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day. 6:32 But Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See you how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? behold, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold the door fast against him: isn"t the sound of his master"s feet behind him? 6:33 While he was yet talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of Yahweh; why should I wait for Yahweh any longer?

7:1 Elisha said, Hear you the word of Yahweh: thus says Yahweh, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. 7:2 Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of G.o.d, and said, Behold, if Yahweh should make windows in heaven, might this thing be? He said, Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat of it. 7:3 Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? 7:4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there; and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall to the army of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. 7:5 They rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they were come to the outermost part of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no man there. 7:6 For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great army: and they said one to another, Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hitt.i.tes, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come on us. 7:7 Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life. 7:8 When these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and ate and drink, and carried there silver, and gold, and clothing, and went and hid it; and they came back, and entered into another tent, and carried there also, and went and hid it. 7:9 Then they said one to another, We aren"t doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we hold our peace: if we wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us; now therefore come, let us go and tell the king"s household. 7:10 So they came and called to the porter of the city; and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were. 7:11 He called the porters; and they told it to the king"s household within. 7:12 The king arose in the night, and said to his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city. 7:13 One of his servants answered, Please let some take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city (behold, they are as all the mult.i.tude of Israel who are left in it; behold, they are as all the mult.i.tude of Israel who are consumed); and let us send and see. 7:14 They took therefore two chariots with horses; and the king sent after the army of the Syrians, saying, Go and see. 7:15 They went after them to the Jordan: and behold, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. The messengers returned, and told the king. 7:16 The people went out, and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of Yahweh. 7:17 The king appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to be in charge of the gate: and the people trod on him in the gate, and he died as the man of G.o.d had said, who spoke when the king came down to him. 7:18 It happened, as the man of G.o.d had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria; 7:19 and that captain answered the man of G.o.d, and said, Now, behold, if Yahweh should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? and he said, Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat of it: 7:20 it happened even so to him; for the people trod on him in the gate, and he died.

8:1 Now Elisha had spoken to the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go you and your household, and sojourn wherever you can sojourn: for Yahweh has called for a famine; and it shall also come on the land seven years. 8:2 The woman arose, and did according to the word of the man of G.o.d; and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. 8:3 It happened at the seven years" end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry to the king for her house and for her land. 8:4 Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of G.o.d, saying, Please tell me all the great things that Elisha has done. 8:5 It happened, as he was telling the king how he had restored to life him who was dead, that behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life. 8:6 When the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed to her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now. 8:7 Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of G.o.d is come here. 8:8 The king said to Hazael, Take a present in your hand, and go, meet the man of G.o.d, and inquire of Yahweh by him, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness? 8:9 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels"

burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Your son Benhadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness?

8:10 Elisha said to him, Go, tell him, You shall surely recover; however Yahweh has shown me that he shall surely die. 8:11 He settled his gaze steadfastly on him, until he was ashamed: and the man of G.o.d wept. 8:12 Hazael said, Why weeps my lord? He answered, Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: their strongholds will you set on fire, and their young men will you kill with the sword, and will dash in pieces their little ones, and rip up their women with child.

8:13 Hazael said, But what is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing? Elisha answered, Yahweh has shown me that you shall be king over Syria. 8:14 Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to you? He answered, He told me that you would surely recover. 8:15 It happened on the next day, that he took the coverlet, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his place.

8:16 In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign. 8:17 Thirty-two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 8:18 He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab as wife; and he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh. 8:19 However Yahweh would not destroy Judah, for David his servant"s sake, as he promised him to give to him a lamp for his children always. 8:20 In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves. 8:21 Then Joram pa.s.sed over to Zair, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and struck the Edomites who surrounded him, and the captains of the chariots; and the people fled to their tents. 8:22 So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day. Then did Libnah revolt at the same time. 8:23 The rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 8:24 Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place. 8:25 In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign. 8:26 Twenty-two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother"s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel. 8:27 He walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as did the house of Ahab; for he was the son-in-law of the house of Ahab. 8:28 He went with Joram the son of Ahab to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth Gilead: and the Syrians wounded Joram. 8:29 King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria.

Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

9:1 Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, Gird up your waist, and take this vial of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead. 9:2 When you come there, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brothers, and carry him to an inner chamber. 9:3 Then take the vial of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus says Yahweh, I have anointed you king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and don"t wait. 9:4 So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead. 9:5 When he came, behold, the captains of the army were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to you, captain.

Jehu said, To which of us all? He said, To you, O captain. 9:6 He arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, Thus says Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, I have anointed you king over the people of Yahweh, even over Israel. 9:7 You shall strike the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of Yahweh, at the hand of Jezebel. 9:8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab everyone who urinates against a wall, and him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Israel. 9:9 I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. 9:10 The dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. He opened the door, and fled. 9:11 Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said to him, Is all well? why came this mad fellow to you? He said to them, You know the man and what his talk was. 9:12 They said, It is false; tell us now. He said, Thus and thus spoke he to me, saying, Thus says Yahweh, I have anointed you king over Israel. 9:13 Then they hurried, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew the trumpet, saying, Jehu is king. 9:14 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram was keeping Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria; 9:15 but king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) Jehu said, If this be your mind, then let none escape and go forth out of the city, to go to tell it in Jezreel. 9:16 So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there.

Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram. 9:17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. Joram said, Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace? 9:18 So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus says the king, Is it peace?

Jehu said, What have you to do with peace? turn you behind me. The watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he isn"t coming back. 9:19 Then he sent out a second on horseback, who came to them, and said, Thus says the king, Is it peace? Jehu answered, What have you to do with peace? turn you behind me. 9:20 The watchman told, saying, He came even to them, and isn"t coming back: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously. 9:21 Joram said, Make ready. They made ready his chariot. Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu, and found him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.

9:22 It happened, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu?

He answered, What peace, so long as the prost.i.tution of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft abound? 9:23 Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, Ahaziah. 9:24 Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and struck Joram between his arms; and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot. 9:25 Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember how that, when I and you rode together after Ahab his father, Yahweh laid this burden on him: 9:26 Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, says Yahweh; and I will requite you in this plat, says Yahweh. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of Yahweh. 9:27 But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot: and they struck him at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo, and died there. 9:28 His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the city of David. 9:29 In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah. 9:30 When Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her eyes, and attired her head, and looked out at the window.

9:31 As Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Is it peace, you Zimri, your master"s murderer? 9:32 He lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? There looked out to him two or three eunuchs. 9:33 He said, Throw her down. So they threw her down; and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trod her under foot. 9:34 When he was come in, he ate and drink; and he said, See now to this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king"s daughter. 9:35 They went to bury her; but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. 9:36 Therefore they came back, and told him. He said, This is the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall the dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel; 9:37 and the body of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel, so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.

10:1 Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and to those who brought up the sons of Ahab, saying, 10:2 Now as soon as this letter comes to you, seeing your master"s sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor; 10:3 look you out the best and meet of your master"s sons, and set him on his father"s throne, and fight for your master"s house. 10:4 But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, the two kings didn"t stand before him: how then shall we stand? 10:5 He who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders also, and those who brought up the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are your servants, and will do all that you shall bid us; we will not make any man king: you do that which is good in your eyes. 10:6 Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If you be on my side, and if you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men your master"s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by tomorrow this time. Now the king"s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who brought them up. 10:7 It happened, when the letter came to them, that they took the king"s sons, and killed them, even seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezreel. 10:8 There came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king"s sons. He said, Lay you them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning. 10:9 It happened in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, You are righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and killed him; but who struck all these? 10:10 Know now that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of Yahweh, which Yahweh spoke concerning the house of Ahab: for Yahweh has done that which he spoke by his servant Elijah. 10:11 So Jehu struck all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his familiar friends, and his priests, until he left him none remaining. 10:12 He arose and departed, and went to Samaria. As he was at the shearing house of the shepherds in the way, 10:13 Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are you? They answered, We are the brothers of Ahaziah: and we go down to Greet the children of the king and the children of the queen. 10:14 He said, Take them alive. They took them alive, and killed them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them. 10:15 When he was departed there, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him; and he greeted him, and said to him, Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart? Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me your hand.

He gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot. 10:16 He said, Come with me, and see my zeal for Yahweh. So they made him ride in his chariot. 10:17 When he came to Samaria, he struck all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, until he had destroyed him, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke to Elijah. 10:18 Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu will serve him much. 10:19 Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshippers, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtlety, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal. 10:20 Jehu said, Sanctify a solemn a.s.sembly for Baal. They proclaimed it. 10:21 Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that didn"t come. They came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was filled from one end to another. 10:22 He said to him who was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. He brought them forth vestments. 10:23 Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal; and he said to the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of Yahweh, but the worshippers of Baal only. 10:24 They went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had appointed him eighty men outside, and said, If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escape, he who lets him go, his life shall be for the life of him. 10:25 It happened, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and kill them; let none come forth. They struck them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. 10:26 They brought forth the pillars that were in the house of Baal, and burned them. 10:27 They broke down the pillar of Baal, and broke down the house of Baal, and made it a latrine, to this day. 10:28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. 10:29 However from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin, Jehu didn"t depart from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan. 10:30 Yahweh said to Jehu, Because you have done well in executing that which is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. 10:31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, with all his heart: he didn"t depart from the sins of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin. 10:32 In those days Yahweh began to cut off from Israel: and Hazael struck them in all the borders of Israel; 10:33 from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Mana.s.sites, from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan. 10:34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 10:35 Jehu slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria. Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place. 10:36 The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.

11:1 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. 11:2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king"s sons who were slain, even him and his nurse, and put them in the bedchamber; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain; 11:3 He was with her hid in the house of Yahweh six years. Athaliah reigned over the land. 11:4 In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the captains over hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him into the house of Yahweh; and he made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of Yahweh, and showed them the king"s son. 11:5 He commanded them, saying, This is the thing that you shall do: a third part of you, who come in on the Sabbath, shall be keepers of the watch of the king"s house; 11:6 A third part shall be at the gate Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so you shall keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier. 11:7 The two companies of you, even all who go forth on the Sabbath, shall keep the watch of the house of Yahweh about the king.

11:8 You shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand; and he who comes within the ranks, let him be slain: and be you with the king when he goes out, and when he comes in. 11:9 The captains over hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded; and they took every man his men, those who were to come in on the Sabbath, with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 11:10 The priest delivered to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that had been king David"s, which were in the house of Yahweh. 11:11 The guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, along by the altar and the house, around the king. 11:12 Then he brought out the king"s son, and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, Long live the king. 11:13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the house of Yahweh: 11:14 and she looked, and behold, the king stood by the pillar, as the manner was, and the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes, and cried, Treason! treason!

11:15 Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, Have her forth between the ranks; and him who follows her kill with the sword. For the priest said, Don"t let her be slain in the house of Yahweh. 11:16 So they made way for her; and she went by the way of the horses" entry to the king"s house: and there was she slain. 11:17 Jehoiada made a covenant between Yahweh and the king and the people, that they should be Yahweh"s people; between the king also and the people. 11:18 All the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and broke it down; his altars and his images broke they in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. The priest appointed officers over the house of Yahweh.

11:19 He took the captains over hundreds, and the Carites, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of Yahweh, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king"s house. He sat on the throne of the kings. 11:20 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. Athaliah they had slain with the sword at the king"s house. 11:21 Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.

12:1 In the seventh year of Jehu began Jehoash to reign; and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem: and his mother"s name was Zibiah of Beersheba.

12:2 Jehoash did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 12:3 However the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places. 12:4 Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the holy things that is brought into the house of Yahweh, in current money, the money of the persons for whom each man is rated, and all the money that it comes into any man"s heart to bring into the house of Yahweh, 12:5 let the priests take it to them, every man from his acquaintance; and they shall repair the breaches of the house, wherever any breach shall be found. 12:6 But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house. 12:7 Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and for the other priests, and said to them, Why don"t you repair the breaches of the house? now therefore take no more money from your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house. 12:8 The priests consented that they should take no more money from the people, neither repair the breaches of the house. 12:9 But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of Yahweh: and the priests who kept the threshold put therein all the money that was brought into the house of Yahweh. 12:10 It was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king"s scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags and counted the money that was found in the house of Yahweh. 12:11 They gave the money that was weighed out into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of Yahweh: and they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders, who worked on the house of Yahweh, 12:12 and to the masons and the stone cutters, and for buying timber and cut stone to repair the breaches of the house of Yahweh, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it. 12:13 But there were not made for the house of Yahweh cups of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of Yahweh; 12:14 for they gave that to those who did the work, and repaired therewith the house of Yahweh. 12:15 Moreover they didn"t demand an accounting from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to give to those who did the work; for they dealt faithfully. 12:16 The money for the trespa.s.s offerings, and the money for the sin offerings, was not brought into the house of Yahweh: it was the priests". 12:17 Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it; and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem. 12:18 Jehoash king of Judah took all the holy things that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own holy things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and of the king"s house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem. 12:19 Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

12:20 His servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and struck Joash at the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla. 12:21 For Jozacar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

13:1 In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years. 13:2 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin; he didn"t depart from it. 13:3 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, continually. 13:4 Jehoahaz begged Yahweh, and Yahweh listened to him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how that the king of Syria oppressed them. 13:5 (Yahweh gave Israel a savior, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel lived in their tents as before. 13:6 Nevertheless they didn"t depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin, but walked therein: and there remained the Asherah also in Samaria.) 13:7 For he didn"t leave to Jehoahaz of the people save fifty hors.e.m.e.n, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing. 13:8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 13:9 Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his place. 13:10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years. 13:11 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh; he didn"t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin; but he walked therein. 13:12 Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 13:13 Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat on his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. 13:14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness of which he died: and Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over him, and said, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its hors.e.m.e.n! 13:15 Elisha said to him, Take bow and arrows; and he took to him bow and arrows.

13:16 He said to the king of Israel, Put your hand on the bow; and he put his hand on it. Elisha laid his hands on the king"s hands. 13:17 He said, Open the window eastward; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot; and he shot. He said, Yahweh"s arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Syria; for you shall strike the Syrians in Aphek, until you have consumed them. 13:18 He said, Take the arrows; and he took them. He said to the king of Israel, Smite on the ground; and he struck thrice, and stayed. 13:19 The man of G.o.d was angry with him, and said, You should have struck five or six times: then had you struck Syria until you had consumed it, whereas now you shall strike Syria but thrice. 13:20 Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. 13:21 It happened, as they were burying a man, that behold, they spied a band; and they cast the man into the tomb of Elisha: and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet. 13:22 Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 13:23 But Yahweh was gracious to them, and had compa.s.sion on them, and had respect to them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet. 13:24 Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his place. 13:25 Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash strike him, and recovered the cities of Israel.

14:1 In the second year of Joash son of Joahaz king of Israel began Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah to reign. 14:2 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother"s name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem. 14:3 He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, yet not like David his father: he did according to all that Joash his father had done. 14:4 However the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places. 14:5 It happened, as soon as the kingdom was established in his hand, that he killed his servants who had slain the king his father: 14:6 but the children of the murderers he didn"t put to death; according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, as Yahweh commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin. 14:7 He killed of Edom in the Valley of Salt ten thousand, and took Sela by war, and called its name Joktheel, to this day. 14:8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face. 14:9 Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son as wife: and there pa.s.sed by a wild animal that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle. 14:10 You have indeed struck Edom, and your heart has lifted you up: glory of it, and abide at home; for why should you meddle to your hurt, that you should fall, even you, and Judah with you?

14:11 But Amaziah would not hear. So Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 14:12 Judah was defeated by Israel; and they fled every man to his tent. 14:13 Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits. 14:14 He took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasures of the king"s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria. 14:15 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 14:16 Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his place. 14:17 Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. 14:18 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 14:19 They made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent after him to Lachish, and killed him there. 14:20 They brought him on horses; and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David. 14:21 All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah. 14:22 He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers. 14:23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty-one years. 14:24 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: he didn"t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. 14:25 He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the sea of the Arabah, according to the word of Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath Hepher. 14:26 For Yahweh saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter; for there was none shut up nor left at large, neither was there any helper for Israel. 14:27 Yahweh didn"t say that he would blot out the name of Israel from under the sky; but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash. 14:28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, for Israel, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 14:29 Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zechariah his son reigned in his place.

15:1 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign. 15:2 Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem: and his mother"s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 15:3 He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 15:4 However the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places. 15:5 Yahweh struck the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house. Jotham the king"s son was over the household, judging the people of the land. 15:6 Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 15:7 Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his place. 15:8 In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months. 15:9 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as his fathers had done: he didn"t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. 15:10 Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck him before the people, and killed him, and reigned in his place. 15:11 Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 15:12 This was the word of Yahweh which he spoke to Jehu, saying, Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. So it came to pa.s.s. 15:13 Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned the s.p.a.ce of a month in Samaria. 15:14 Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and killed him, and reigned in his place. 15:15 Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 15:16 Then Menahem struck Tiphsah, and all who were therein, and its borders, from Tirzah: because they didn"t open to him, therefore he struck it; and all the women therein who were with child he ripped up. 15:17 In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria. 15:18 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: he didn"t depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. 15:19 There came against the land Pul the king of a.s.syria; and Menahem gave Pul one thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand. 15:20 Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of a.s.syria. So the king of a.s.syria turned back, and didn"t stay there in the land. 15:21 Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 15:22 Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his place. 15:23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years. 15:24 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: he didn"t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. 15:25 Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him, and struck him in Samaria, in the castle of the king"s house, with Argob and Arieh; and with him were fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his place. 15:26 Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 15:27 In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years. 15:28 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: he didn"t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. 15:29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath Pileser king of a.s.syria, and took Ijon, and Abel Beth Maacah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to a.s.syria. 15:30 Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and struck him, and killed him, and reigned in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. 15:31 Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 15:32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign. 15:33 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and his mother"s name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok. 15:34 He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh; he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done. 15:35 However the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of Yahweh. 15:36 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 15:37 In those days Yahweh began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah. 15:38 Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

16:1 In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. 16:2 Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he didn"t do that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh his G.o.d, like David his father. 16:3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yes, and made his son to pa.s.s through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom Yahweh cast out from before the children of Israel. 16:4 He sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 16:5 Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.

16:6 At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drove the Jews from Elath; and the Syrians came to Elath, and lived there, to this day. 16:7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath Pileser king of a.s.syria, saying, I am your servant and your son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me. 16:8 Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasures of the king"s house, and sent it for a present to the king of a.s.syria. 16:9 The king of a.s.syria listened to him; and the king of a.s.syria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and killed Rezin. 16:10 King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath Pileser king of a.s.syria, and saw the altar that was at Damascus; and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and its pattern, according to all its workmanship. 16:11 Urijah the priest built an altar: according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so did Urijah the priest make it against the coming of king Ahaz from Damascus.

16:12 When the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king drew near to the altar, and offered thereon. 16:13 He burnt his burnt offering and his meal offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, on the altar. 16:14 The bronze altar, which was before Yahweh, he brought from the forefront of the house, from between his altar and the house of Yahweh, and put it on the north side of his altar. 16:15 King Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, On the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meal offering, and the king"s burnt offering, and his meal offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meal offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle on it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: but the bronze altar shall be for me to inquire by. 16:16 Urijah the priest did so, according to all that king Ahaz commanded. 16:17 King Ahaz cut off the panels of the bases, and removed the basin from off them, and took down the sea from off the bronze oxen that were under it, and put it on a pavement of stone. 16:18 The covered way for the Sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king"s entry outside, turned he to the house of Yahweh, because of the king of a.s.syria. 16:19 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, aren"t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 16:20 Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

17:1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel, and reigned nine years. 17:2 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him. 17:3 Against him came up Shalmaneser king of a.s.syria; and Hoshea became his servant, and brought him tribute. 17:4 The king of a.s.syria found conspiracy in Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of a.s.syria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of a.s.syria shut him up, and bound him in prison. 17:5 Then the king of a.s.syria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. 17:6 In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of a.s.syria took Samaria, and carried Israel away to a.s.syria, and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

17:7 It was so, because the children of Israel had sinned against Yahweh their G.o.d, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other G.o.ds, 17:8 and walked in the statutes of the nations, whom Yahweh cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they made.

17:9 The children of Israel did secretly things that were not right against Yahweh their G.o.d: and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city; 17:10 and they set them up pillars and Asherim on every high hill, and under every green tree; 17:11 and there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the nations whom Yahweh carried away before them; and they worked wicked things to provoke Yahweh to anger; 17:12 and they served idols, of which Yahweh had said to them, You shall not do this thing. 17:13 Yet Yahweh testified to Israel, and to Judah, by every prophet, and every seer, saying, Turn you from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. 17:14 Notwithstanding, they would not hear, but hardened their neck, like the neck of their fathers, who didn"t believe in Yahweh their G.o.d. 17:15 They rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified to them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the nations that were around them, concerning whom Yahweh had commanded them that they should not do like them. 17:16 They forsook all the commandments of Yahweh their G.o.d, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made an Asherah, and worshiped all the army of the sky, and served Baal. 17:17 They caused their sons and their daughters to pa.s.s through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger. 17:18 Therefore Yahweh was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. 17:19 Also Judah didn"t keep the commandments of Yahweh their G.o.d, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. 17:20 Yahweh rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. 17:21 For he tore Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drove Israel from following Yahweh, and made them sin a great sin. 17:22 The children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they didn"t depart from them; 17:23 until Yahweh removed Israel out of his sight, as he spoke by all his servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away out of their own land to a.s.syria to this day. 17:24 The king of a.s.syria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria, and lived in the cities of it. 17:25 So it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they didn"t fear Yahweh: therefore Yahweh sent lions among them, which killed some of them. 17:26 Therefore they spoke to the king of a.s.syria, saying, The nations which you have carried away, and placed in the cities of Samaria, don"t know the law of the G.o.d of the land: therefore he has sent lions among them, and behold, they kill them, because they don"t know the law of the G.o.d of the land. 17:27 Then the king of a.s.syria commanded, saying, Carry there one of the priests whom you brought from there; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the law of the G.o.d of the land.

17:28 So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear Yahweh. 17:29 However every nation made G.o.ds of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities in which they lived. 17:30 The men of Babylon made Succoth Benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, 17:31 and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the G.o.ds of Sepharvaim. 17:32 So they feared Yahweh, and made to them from among themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. 17:33 They feared Yahweh, and served their own G.o.ds, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away. 17:34 To this day they do after the former manner: they don"t fear Yahweh, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law or after the commandment which Yahweh commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel; 17:35 with whom Yahweh had made a covenant, and commanded them, saying, You shall not fear other G.o.ds, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them: 17:36 but Yahweh, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, him you shall fear, and to him you shall bow yourselves, and to him you shall sacrifice: 17:37 and the statutes and the ordinances, and the law and the commandment, which he wrote for you, you shall observe to do forevermore; and you shall not fear other G.o.ds: 17:38 and the covenant that I have made with you you shall not forget; neither shall you fear other G.o.ds: 17:39 but you shall fear Yahweh your G.o.d; and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies. 17:40 However they did not listen, but they did after their former manner. 17:41 So these nations feared Yahweh, and served their engraved images; their children likewise, and their children"s children, as did their fathers, so do they to this day.

18:1 Now it happened in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 18:2 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother"s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. 18:3 He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that David his father had done. 18:4 He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for to those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan. 18:5 He trusted in Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among them that were before him. 18:6 For he joined with Yahweh; he didn"t depart from following him, but kept his commandments, which Yahweh commanded Moses.

18:7 Yahweh was with him; wherever he went forth he prospered: and he rebelled against the king of a.s.syria, and didn"t serve him. 18:8 He struck the Philistines to Gaza and its borders, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city. 18:9 It happened in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of a.s.syria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. 18:10 At the end of three years they took it: in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. 18:11 The king of a.s.syria carried Israel away to a.s.syria, and put them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, 18:12 because they didn"t obey the voice of Yahweh their G.o.d, but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded, and would not hear it, nor do it. 18:13 Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of a.s.syria come up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them. 18:14 Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of a.s.syria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which you put on me will I bear. The king of a.s.syria appointed to Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. 18:15 Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasures of the king"s house. 18:16 At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of Yahweh, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of a.s.syria. 18:17 The king of a.s.syria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great army to Jerusalem. They went up and came to Jerusalem. When they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller"s field. 18:18 When they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder. 18:19 Rabshakeh said to them, Say you now to Hezekiah, Thus says the great king, the king of a.s.syria, What confidence is this in which you trust? 18:20 You say (but they are but vain words), There is counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me? 18:21 Now, behold, you trust on the staff of this bruised reed, even on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust on him. 18:22 But if you tell me, We trust in Yahweh our G.o.d; isn"t that he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem? 18:23 Now therefore, Please give pledges to my master the king of a.s.syria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them. 18:24 How then can you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master"s servants, and put your trust on Egypt for chariots and for hors.e.m.e.n? 18:25 Am I now come up without Yahweh against this place to destroy it? Yahweh said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it. 18:26 Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, to Rabshakeh, Please speak to your servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and don"t speak with us in the Jews" language, in the ears of the people who are on the wall. 18:27 But Rabshakeh said to them, Has my master sent me to your master, and to you, to speak these words? Hasn"t he sent me to the men who sit on the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own water with you? 18:28 Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews" language, and spoke, saying, Hear you the word of the great king, the king of a.s.syria. 18:29 Thus says the king, Don"t let Hezekiah deceive you; for he will not be able to deliver you out of his hand: 18:30 neither let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, Yahweh will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of a.s.syria. 18:31 Don"t listen to Hezekiah: for thus says the king of a.s.syria, Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and eat you everyone of his vine, and everyone of his fig tree, and everyone drink the waters of his own cistern; 18:32 Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and of honey, that you may live, and not die: and don"t listen to Hezekiah, when he persuades you, saying, Yahweh will deliver us. 18:33 Has any of the G.o.ds of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of a.s.syria? 18:34 Where are the G.o.ds of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the G.o.ds of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 18:35 Who are they among all the G.o.ds of the countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Yahweh should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand? 18:36 But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king"s commandment was, saying, Don"t answer him. 18:37 Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

19:1 It happened, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Yahweh.

19:2 He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz. 19:3 They said to him, Thus says Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of rejection; for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. 19:4 It may be Yahweh your G.o.d will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of a.s.syria his master has sent to defy the living G.o.d, and wi

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