SECOND CHRONICLES
1:1: And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his
kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified
him exceedingly.
1:2: Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of
thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every
governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.
1:3: So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to
the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle
of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the
LORD had made in the wilderness.
1:4: But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjath-jearim
to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched
a tent for it at Jerusalem.
1:5: Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri,
the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of
the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.
1:6: And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before
the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation,
and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.
1:7: In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto
him, Ask what I shall give thee.
1:8: And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy
unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.
1:9: Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father
be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like
the dust of the earth in multitude.
1:10: Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out
and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy
people, that is so great?
1:11: And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart,
and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the
life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but
hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest
judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:
1:12: Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will
give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of
the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall
there any after thee have the like.
1:13: Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place
that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle
of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.
1:14: And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had
a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand
horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with
the king at Jerusalem.
1:15: And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous
as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that
are in the vale for abundance.
1:16: And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen
yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
1:17: And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt
a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse
for an hundred and fifty: and so brought they out horses for
all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria,
by their means.
2:1: And Solomon determined to build an house for the name
of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.
2:2: And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men
to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain,
and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
2:3: And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As
thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars
to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with
me.
2:4: Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God,
to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense,
and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings
morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons,
and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance
for ever to Israel.
2:5: And the house which I build is great: for great is our
God above all gods.
2:6: But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven
and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that
I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before
him?
2:7: Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold,
and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and
crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning
men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David
my father did provide.
2:8: Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees,
out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to
cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with
thy servants,
2:9: Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house
which I am about to build shall be wonderful great.
2:10: And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers
that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat,
and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand
baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.
2:11: Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which
he sent to Solomon, Because the LORD hath loved his people,
he hath made thee king over them.
2:12: Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel,
that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king
a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might
build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.
2:13: And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding,
of Huram my father's,
2:14: The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his
father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in
silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple,
in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave
any manner of graving, and to find out every device which
shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning
men of my lord David thy father.
2:15: Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and
the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto
his servants:
2:16: And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou
shalt need: and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea
to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.
2:17: And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in
the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his
father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and
fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.
2:18: And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be
bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in
the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers
to set the people a work.
3:1: Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at
Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David
his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor
of Ornan the Jebusite.
3:2: And he began to build in the second day of the second
month, in the fourth year of his reign.
3:3: Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed
for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits
after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth
twenty cubits.
3:4: And the porch that was in the front of the house, the
length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty
cubits, and the height was an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid
it within with pure gold.
3:5: And the greater house he cieled with fir tree, which
he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and
chains.
3:6: And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty:
and the gold was gold of Parvaim.
3:7: He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and
the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved
cherubims on the walls.
3:8: And he made the most holy house, the length whereof was
according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and
the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with
fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.
3:9: And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold.
And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.
3:10: And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of
image work, and overlaid them with gold.
3:11: And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long:
one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the
wall of the house: and the other wing was likewise five cubits,
reaching to the wing of the other cherub.
3:12: And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching
to the wall of the house: and the other wing was five cubits
also, joining to the wing of the other cherub.
3:13: The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth
twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces
were inward.
3:14: And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson,
and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.
3:15: Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty
and five cubits high, and the chapiter that was on the top
of each of them was five cubits.
3:16: And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on
the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates,
and put them on the chains.
3:17: And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one
on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the
name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that
on the left Boaz.
4:1: Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the
length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and
ten cubits the height thereof.
4:2: Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to
brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof;
and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.
4:3: And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass
it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about.
Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast.
4:4: It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north,
and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward
the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea
was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.
4:5: And the thickness of it was an handbreadth, and the brim
of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of
lilies; and it received and held three thousand baths.
4:6: He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand,
and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they
offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the
sea was for the priests to wash in.
4:7: And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their
form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand,
and five on the left.
4:8: He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple,
five on the right side, and five on the left. And he made
an hundred basons of gold.
4:9: Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the
great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors
of them with brass.
4:10: And he set the sea on the right side of the east end,
over against the south.
4:11: And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basons.
And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon
for the house of God;
4:12: To wit, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters
which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths
to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were on the
top of the pillars;
4:13: And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths; two
rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two pommels
of the chapiters which were upon the pillars.
4:14: He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases;
4:15: One sea, and twelve oxen under it.
4:16: The pots also, and the shovels, and the fleshhooks,
and all their instruments, did Huram his father make to king
Solomon for the house of the LORD of bright brass.
4:17: In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the
clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah.
4:18: Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance:
for the weight of the brass could not be found out.
4:19: And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house
of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the
shewbread was set;
4:20: Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they
should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold;
4:21: And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made
he of gold, and that perfect gold;
4:22: And the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and
the censers, of pure gold: and the entry of the house, the
inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors
of the house of the temple, were of gold.
5:1: Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of
the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things
that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the
gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures
of the house of God.
5:2: Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all
the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children
of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant
of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.
5:3: Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves
unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month.
5:4: And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took
up the ark.
5:5: And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the
congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle,
these did the priests and the Levites bring up.
5:6: Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel
that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep
and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude.
5:7: And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of
the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into
the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims:
5:8: For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place
of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves
thereof above.
5:9: And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the ends
of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but
they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day.
5:10: There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which
Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant
with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
5:11: And it came to pass, when the priests were come out
of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present
were sanctified, and did not then wait by course:
5:12: Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them
of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their
brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and
psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar,
and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with
trumpets:)
5:13: It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers
were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and
thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with
the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised
the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for
ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the
house of the LORD;
5:14: So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason
of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house
of God.
6:1: Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell
in the thick darkness.
6:2: But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and
a place for thy dwelling for ever.
6:3: And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation
of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood.
6:4: And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who hath
with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth
to my father David, saying,
6:5: Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the
land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel
to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither
chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:
6:6: But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there;
and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.
6:7: Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an
house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
6:8: But the LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it
was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst
well in that it was in thine heart:
6:9: Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy
son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build
the house for my name.
6:10: The LORD therefore hath performed his word that he hath
spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father,
and am set on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised,
and have built the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
6:11: And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant
of the LORD, that he made with the children of Israel.
6:12: And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence
of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:
6:13: For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits
long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had
set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and
kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of
Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,
6:14: And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like
thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant,
and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee
with all their hearts:
6:15: Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father
that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth,
and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.
6:16: Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant
David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying,
There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the
throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their
way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.
6:17: Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified,
which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.
6:18: But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth?
behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee;
how much less this house which I have built!
6:19: Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant,
and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the
cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee:
6:20: That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and
night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest
put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant
prayeth toward this place.
6:21: Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant,
and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this
place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven;
and when thou hearest, forgive.
6:22: If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid
upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before thine
altar in this house;
6:23: Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants,
by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his
own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according
to his righteousness.
6:24: And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before
the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall
return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication
before thee in this house;
6:25: Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin
of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which
thou gavest to them and to their fathers.
6:26: When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because
they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this
place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when
thou dost afflict them;
6:27: Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy
servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught
them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain
upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an
inheritance.
6:28: If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence,
if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers;
if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land;
whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be:
6:29: Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be
made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one
shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread
forth his hands in this house:
6:30: Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive,
and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose
heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the
children of men:)
6:31: That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long
as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.
6:32: Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy
people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great
name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm;
if they come and pray in this house;
6:33: Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling
place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to
thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name,
and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that
this house which I have built is called by thy name.
6:34: If thy people go out to war against their enemies by
the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee
toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which
I have built for thy name;
6:35: Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their
supplication, and maintain their cause.
6:36: If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which
sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them
over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives
unto a land far off or near;
6:37: Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they
are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land
of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss,
and have dealt wickedly;
6:38: If they return to thee with all their heart and with
all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they
have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which
thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which
thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built
for thy name:
6:39: Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling
place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain
their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against
thee.
6:40: Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open,
and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made
in this place.
6:41: Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place,
thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD
God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice
in goodness.
6:42: O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed:
remember the mercies of David thy servant.
7:1: Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire
came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and
the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
7:2: And the priests could not enter into the house of the
LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's
house.
7:3: And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire
came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they
bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement,
and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good;
for his mercy endureth for ever.
7:4: Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before
the LORD.
7:5: And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two
thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so
the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
7:6: And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites
also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the
king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth
for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests
sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
7:7: Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that
was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt
offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the
brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive
the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.
7:8: Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days,
and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the
entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.
7:9: And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for
they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the
feast seven days.
7:10: And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month
he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in
heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David,
and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.
7:11: Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the
king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make
in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously
effected.
7:12: And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said
unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place
to myself for an house of sacrifice.
7:13: If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command
the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among
my people;
7:14: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble
themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their
wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive
their sin, and will heal their land.
7:15: Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto
the prayer that is made in this place.
7:16: For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that
my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart
shall be there perpetually.
7:17: And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David
thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded
thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;
7:18: Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according
as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There
shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.
7:19: But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my
commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and
serve other gods, and worship them;
7:20: Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land
which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified
for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it
to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.
7:21: And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment
to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why
hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house?
7:22: And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD
God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the
land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped
them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this
evil upon them.
8:1: And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein
Solomon had built the house of the LORD, and his own house,
8:2: That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon,
Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell
there.
8:3: And Solomon went to Hamath-zobah, and prevailed against
it.
8:4: And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store
cities, which he built in Hamath.
8:5: Also he built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the
nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;
8:6: And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had,
and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen,
and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in
Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.
8:7: As for all the people that were left of the Hittites,
and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and
the Jebusites, which were not of Israel,
8:8: But of their children, who were left after them in the
land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon
make to pay tribute until this day.
8:9: But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants
for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains,
and captains of his chariots and horsemen.
8:10: And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers,
even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people.
8:11: And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of
the city of David unto the house that he had built for her:
for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David
king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the
ark of the LORD hath come.
8:12: Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the LORD on
the altar of the LORD, which he had built before the porch,
8:13: Even after a certain rate every day, offering according
to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new
moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year,
even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of
weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.
8:14: And he appointed, according to the order of David his
father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the
Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the
priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also
by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of
God commanded.
8:15: And they departed not from the commandment of the king
unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning
the treasures.
8:16: Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day
of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was
finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected.
8:17: Then went Solomon to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth, at the
sea side in the land of Edom.
8:18: And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships,
and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went
with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four
hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king
Solomon.
9:1: And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon,
she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem,
with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and
gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come
to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
9:2: And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was
nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not.
9:3: And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon,
and the house that he had built,
9:4: And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants,
and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his
cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which
he went up into the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit
in her.
9:5: And she said to the king, It was a true report which
I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom:
9:6: Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and
mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness
of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame
that I heard.
9:7: Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants,
which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.
9:8: Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee
to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God:
because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever,
therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and
justice.
9:9: And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of
gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones:
neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave
king Solomon.
9:10: And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of
Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees
and precious stones.
9:11: And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the
house of the LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and
psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before
in the land of Judah.
9:12: And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her
desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which she had brought
unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land,
she and her servants.
9:13: Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year
was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;
9:14: Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And
all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought
gold and silver to Solomon.
9:15: And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten
gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target.
9:16: And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three
hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put
them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
9:17: Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and
overlaid it with pure gold.
9:18: And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool
of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each
side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays:
9:19: And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on
the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made
in any kingdom.
9:20: And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of
gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon
were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was not any thing
accounted of in the days of Solomon.
9:21: For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants
of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish
bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
9:22: And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in
riches and wisdom.
9:23: And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of
Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.
9:24: And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver,
and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses,
and mules, a rate year by year.
9:25: And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and
chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in
the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
9:26: And he reigned over all the kings from the river even
unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.
9:27: And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and
cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the
low plains in abundance.
9:28: And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt, and
out of all lands.
9:29: Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last,
are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and
in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions
of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?
9:30: And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty
years.
9:31: And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried
in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned
in his stead.
10:1: And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all
Israel come to make him king.
10:2: And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat,
who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of
Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of
Egypt.
10:3: And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel
came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,
10:4: Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease
thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his
heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
10:5: And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three
days. And the people departed.
10:6: And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that
had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying,
What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?
10:7: And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to
this people, and please them, and speak good words to them,
they will be thy servants for ever.
10:8: But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him,
and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with
him, that stood before him.
10:9: And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may
return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying,
Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?
10:10: And the young men that were brought up with him spake
unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake
unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make
thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto
them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
10:11: For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I
will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips,
but I will chastise you with scorpions.
10:12: So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on
the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me
on the third day.
10:13: And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam
forsook the counsel of the old men,
10:14: And answered them after the advice of the young men,
saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto:
my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you
with scorpions.
10:15: So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the
cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which
he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the
son of Nebat.
10:16: And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken
unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion
have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son
of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David,
see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.
10:17: But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the
cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
10:18: Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute;
and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he
died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot,
to flee to Jerusalem.
10:19: And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto
this day.
11:1: And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered
of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore
thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against
Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.
11:2: But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of
God, saying,
11:3: Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah,
and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
11:4: Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against
your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing
is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and
returned from going against Jeroboam.
11:5: And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for
defence in Judah.
11:6: He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
11:7: And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
11:8: And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
11:9: And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
11:10: And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah
and in Benjamin fenced cities.
11:11: And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains
in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.
11:12: And in every several city he put shields and spears,
and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin
on his side.
11:13: And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel
resorted to him out of all their coasts.
11:14: For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession,
and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons
had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto
the LORD:
11:15: And he ordained him priests for the high places, and
for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.
11:16: And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such
as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to
Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.
11:17: So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made
Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three
years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.
11:18: And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth
the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab
the son of Jesse;
11:19: Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and
Zaham.
11:20: And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom;
which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
11:21: And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom
above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen
wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight
sons, and threescore daughters.)
11:22: And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief,
to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him
king.
11:23: And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children
throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every
fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he
desired many wives.
12:1: And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the
kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law
of the LORD, and all Israel with him.
12:2: And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king
Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem,
because they had transgressed against the LORD,
12:3: With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand
horsemen: and the people were without number that came with
him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.
12:4: And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah,
and came to Jerusalem.
12:5: Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the
princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem
because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the LORD,
Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in
the hand of Shishak.
12:6: Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled
themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.
12:7: And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves,
the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled
themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will
grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured
out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
12:8: Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may
know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
12:9: So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem,
and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and
the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried
away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
12:10: Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass,
and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard,
that kept the entrance of the king's house.
12:11: And when the king entered into the house of the LORD,
the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into
the guard chamber.
12:12: And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD
turned from him that he would not destroy him altogether:
and also in Judah things went well.
12:13: So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem,
and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when
he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem,
the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of
Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah
an Ammonitess.
12:14: And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart
to seek the LORD.
12:15: Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they
not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo
the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between
Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.
12:16: And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried
in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.
13:1: Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah
to reign over Judah.
13:2: He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name
also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there
was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
13:3: And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant
men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam
also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred
thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valour.
13:4: And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in
mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;
13:5: Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave
the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and
to his sons by a covenant of salt?
13:6: Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon
the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his
lord.
13:7: And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children
of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam
the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted,
and could not withstand them.
13:8: And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD
in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a great multitude,
and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made
you for gods.
13:9: Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons
of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after
the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever
cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven
rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.
13:10: But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not
forsaken him; and the priests, which minister unto the LORD,
are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business:
13:11: And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every
evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread
also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick
of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for
we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye have forsaken
him.
13:12: And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain,
and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against
you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God
of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.
13:13: But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind
them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind
them.
13:14: And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was
before and behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests
sounded with the trumpets.
13:15: Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men
of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam
and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
13:16: And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God
delivered them into their hand.
13:17: And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter:
so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen
men.
13:18: Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that
time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied
upon the LORD God of their fathers.
13:19: And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities
from him, Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshnah with
the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the towns thereof.
13:20: Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the
days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.
13:21: But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives,
and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.
13:22: And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and
his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.
14:1: So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him
in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
In his days the land was quiet ten years.
14:2: And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes
of the LORD his God:
14:3: For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and
the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the
groves:
14:4: And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers,
and to do the law and the commandment.
14:5: Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the
high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before
him.
14:6: And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had
rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had
given him rest.
14:7: Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities,
and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while
the land is yet before us; because we have sought the LORD
our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on
every side. So they built and prospered.
14:8: And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears,
out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin,
that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore
thousand: all these were mighty men of valour.
14:9: And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian
with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots;
and came unto Mareshah.
14:10: Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle
in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
14:11: And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD,
it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with
them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest
on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD,
thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.
14:12: So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa and before
Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
14:13: And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them
unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they
could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before
the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very
much spoil.
14:14: And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for
the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all
the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
14:15: They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away
sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.
15:1: And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:
15:2: And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear
ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you,
while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found
of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
15:3: Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true
God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.
15:4: But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD
God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
15:5: And in those times there was no peace to him that went
out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon
all the inhabitants of the countries.
15:6: And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city:
for God did vex them with all adversity.
15:7: Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak:
for your work shall be rewarded.
15:8: And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of
Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable
idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of
the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed
the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.
15:9: And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers
with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon:
for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they
saw that the LORD his God was with him.
15:10: So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in
the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
15:11: And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the
spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven
thousand sheep.
15:12: And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God
of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
15:13: That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel
should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man
or woman.
15:14: And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and
with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.
15:15: And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn
with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire;
and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round
about.
15:16: And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king,
he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol
in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and
burnt it at the brook Kidron.
15:17: But the high places were not taken away out of Israel:
nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
15:18: And he brought into the house of God the things that
his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated,
silver, and gold, and vessels.
15:19: And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth
year of the reign of Asa.
16:1: In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha
king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to
the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa
king of Judah.
16:2: Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures
of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent
to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
16:3: There is a league between me and thee, as there was
between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee
silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of
Israel, that he may depart from me.
16:4: And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the
captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they
smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store cities
of Naphtali.
16:5: And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left
off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.
16:6: Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away
the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha
was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.
16:7: And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of
Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the
king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore
is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
16:8: Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host,
with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst
rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.
16:9: For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the
whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them
whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly:
therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
16:10: Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a
prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this
thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
16:11: And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they
are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
16:12: And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was
diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great:
yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
16:13: And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one
and fortieth year of his reign.
16:14: And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he
had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in
the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds
of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made
a very great burning for him.
17:1: And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened
himself against Israel.
17:2: And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah,
and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities
of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.
17:3: And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked
in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto
Baalim;
17:4: But sought to the LORD God of his father, and walked
in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
17:5: Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand;
and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had
riches and honour in abundance.
17:6: And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD:
moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
17:7: Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes,
even to Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to
Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
17:8: And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah,
and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan,
and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, Levites; and
with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.
17:9: And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law
of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities
of Judah, and taught the people.
17:10: And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms
of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made
no war against Jehoshaphat.
17:11: Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents,
and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven
thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven
hundred he goats.
17:12: And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built
in Judah castles, and cities of store.
17:13: And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and
the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.
17:14: And these are the numbers of them according to the
house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands;
Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred
thousand.
17:15: And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with
him two hundred and fourscore thousand.
17:16: And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly
offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand
mighty men of valour.
17:17: And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and
with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.
17:18: And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred
and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.
17:19: These waited on the king, beside those whom the king
put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.
18:1: Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance,
and joined affinity with Ahab.
18:2: And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria.
And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for
the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up
with him to Ramoth-gilead.
18:3: And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of
Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered
him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we
will be with thee in the war.
18:4: And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire,
I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
18:5: Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets
four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead
to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God
will deliver it into the king's hand.
18:6: But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of
the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?
18:7: And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There
is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I
hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always
evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat
said, Let not the king say so.
18:8: And the king of Israel called for one of his officers,
and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
18:9: And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah
sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes,
and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate
of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
18:10: And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns
of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt
push Syria until they be consumed.
18:11: And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to
Ramoth-gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it
into the hand of the king.
18:12: And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to
him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good
to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray
thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.
18:13: And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my
God saith, that will I speak.
18:14: And when he was come to the king, the king said unto
him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall
I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall
be delivered into your hand.
18:15: And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure
thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name
of the LORD?
18:16: Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the
mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said,
These have no master; let them return therefore every man
to his house in peace.
18:17: And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not
tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
18:18: Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD;
I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of
heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.
18:19: And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel,
that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake
saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
18:20: Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the
LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto
him, Wherewith?
18:21: And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in
the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt
entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even
so.
18:22: Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit
in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken
evil against thee.
18:23: Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote
Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit
of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?
18:24: And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day
when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
18:25: Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and
carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash
the king's son;
18:26: And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the
prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water
of affliction, until I return in peace.
18:27: And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace,
then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken,
all ye people.
18:28: So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah
went up to Ramoth-gilead.
18:29: And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will
disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on
thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they
went to the battle.
18:30: Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of
the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with
small or great, save only with the king of Israel.
18:31: And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots
saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel.
Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat
cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to
depart from him.
18:32: For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the
chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they
turned back again from pursuing him.
18:33: And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote
the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore
he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest
carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
18:34: And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king
of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians
until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he
died.
19:1: And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house
in peace to Jerusalem.
19:2: And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet
him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the
ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath
upon thee from before the LORD.
19:3: Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in
that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and
hast prepared thine heart to seek God.
19:4: And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out
again through the people from Beer-sheba to mount Ephraim,
and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.
19:5: And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced
cities of Judah, city by city,
19:6: And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye
judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the
judgment.
19:7: Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you;
take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD
our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
19:8: Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites,
and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel,
for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when
they returned to Jerusalem.
19:9: And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the
fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.
19:10: And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren
that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between
law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even
warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so
wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and
ye shall not trespass.
19:11: And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in
all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael,
the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters:
also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously,
and the LORD shall be with the good.
20:1: It came to pass after this also, that the children of
Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside
the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
20:2: Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying,
There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the
sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be Hazazon-tamar,
which is En-gedi.
20:3: And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the
LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
20:4: And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help
of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came
to seek the LORD.
20:5: And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and
Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
20:6: And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God
in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the
heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so
that none is able to withstand thee?
20:7: Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants
of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the
seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
20:8: And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary
therein for thy name, saying,
20:9: If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment,
or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and
in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry
unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
20:10: And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and
mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when
they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them,
and destroyed them not;
20:11: Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast
us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.
20:12: O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no
might against this great company that cometh against us; neither
know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
20:13: And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little
ones, their wives, and their children.
20:14: Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of
Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite
of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst
of the congregation;
20:15: And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants
of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD
unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great
multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
20:16: To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come
up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end
of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
20:17: Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves,
stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you,
O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow
go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
20:18: And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the
ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell
before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.
20:19: And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites,
and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the
LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
20:20: And they rose early in the morning, and went forth
into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat
stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem;
Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established;
believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
20:21: And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed
singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of
holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise
the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.
20:22: And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD
set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount
Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
20:23: For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against
the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy
them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of
Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
20:24: And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness,
they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead
bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
20:25: And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away
the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both
riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they
stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away:
and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was
so much.
20:26: And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in
the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore
the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah,
unto this day.
20:27: Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem,
and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem
with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their
enemies.
20:28: And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps
and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.
20:29: And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those
countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against
the enemies of Israel.
20:30: So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God
gave him rest round about.
20:31: And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and
five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty
and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah
the daughter of Shilhi.
20:32: And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed
not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the
LORD.
20:33: Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as
yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God
of their fathers.
20:34: Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and
last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son
of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.
20:35: And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself
with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:
20:36: And he joined himself with him to make ships to go
to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion-geber.
20:37: Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied
against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself
with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships
were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.
21:1: Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried
with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son
reigned in his stead.
21:2: And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah,
and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah:
all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
21:3: And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and
of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah:
but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.
21:4: Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his
father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren
with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.
21:5: Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to
reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
21:6: And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like
as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab
to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of
the LORD.
21:7: Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David,
because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as
he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.
21:8: In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion
of Judah, and made themselves a king.
21:9: Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his
chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the
Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.
21:10: So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah
unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under
his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.
21:11: Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah,
and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication,
and compelled Judah thereto.
21:12: And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet,
saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because
thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father,
nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
21:13: But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel,
and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go
a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and
also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which
were better than thyself:
21:14: Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy
people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:
21:15: And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy
bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness
day by day.
21:16: Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit
of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the
Ethiopians:
21:17: And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and
carried away all the substance that was found in the king's
house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was
never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
21:18: And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels
with an incurable disease.
21:19: And it came to pass, that in process of time, after
the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his
sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made
no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.
21:20: Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign,
and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without
being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David,
but not in the sepulchres of the kings.
22:1: And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest
son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with
the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah
the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.
22:2: Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to
reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's
name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
22:3: He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for
his mother was his counseller to do wickedly.
22:4: Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like
the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellers after the
death of his father to his destruction.
22:5: He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram
the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king
of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.
22:6: And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the
wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with
Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king
of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel,
because he was sick.
22:7: And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming
to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against
Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut
off the house of Ahab.
22:8: And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment
upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and
the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah,
he slew them.
22:9: And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he
was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they
had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he is
the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart.
So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.
22:10: But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her
son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of
the house of Judah.
22:11: But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash
the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons
that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber.
So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of
Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,)
hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.
22:12: And he was with them hid in the house of God six years:
and Athaliah reigned over the land.
23:1: And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself,
and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham,
and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed,
and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of
Zichri, into covenant with him.
23:2: And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites
out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers
of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.
23:3: And all the congregation made a covenant with the king
in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's
son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David.
23:4: This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of
you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites,
shall be porters of the doors;
23:5: And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a
third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people
shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.
23:6: But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the
priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall
go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the
watch of the LORD.
23:7: And the Levites shall compass the king round about,
every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else
cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye
with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.
23:8: So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things
that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man
his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that
were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed
not the courses.
23:9: Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains
of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been
king David's, which were in the house of God.
23:10: And he set all the people, every man having his weapon
in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left
side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by
the king round about.
23:11: Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon
him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king.
And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save
the king.
23:12: Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running
and praising the king, she came to the people into the house
of the LORD:
23:13: And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his
pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets
by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and
sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of
musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent
her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.
23:14: Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of
hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them,
Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let
him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her
not in the house of the LORD.
23:15: So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to
the entering of the horse gate by the king's house, they slew
her there.
23:16: And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between
all the people, and between the king, that they should be
the LORD's people.
23:17: Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and
brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces,
and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.
23:18: Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of
the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David
had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt
offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses,
with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.
23:19: And he set the porters at the gates of the house of
the LORD, that none which was unclean in any thing should
enter in.
23:20: And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles,
and the governors of the people, and all the people of the
land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD:
and they came through the high gate into the king's house,
and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.
23:21: And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city
was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.
24:1: Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and
he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also
was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.
24:2: And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the
LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
24:3: And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons
and daughters.
24:4: And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded
to repair the house of the LORD.
24:5: And he gathered together the priests and the Levites,
and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather
of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year
to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites
hastened it not.
24:6: And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said
unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring
in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according
to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of
the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?
24:7: For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken
up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of
the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim.
24:8: And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and
set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD.
24:9: And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem,
to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant
of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness.
24:10: And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and
brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an
end.
24:11: Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was
brought unto the king's office by the hand of the Levites,
and when they saw that there was much money, the king's scribe
and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest,
and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they
did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.
24:12: And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the
work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons
and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also such
as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD.
24:13: So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected
by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened
it.
24:14: And when they had finished it, they brought the rest
of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made
vessels for the house of the LORD, even vessels to minister,
and to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver.
And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD
continually all the days of Jehoiada.
24:15: But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he
died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.
24:16: And they buried him in the city of David among the
kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God,
and toward his house.
24:17: Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of
Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened
unto them.
24:18: And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers,
and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and
Jerusalem for this their trespass.
24:19: Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto
the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would
not give ear.
24:20: And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of
Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said
unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments
of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken
the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.
24:21: And they conspired against him, and stoned him with
stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the
house of the LORD.
24:22: Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which
Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And
when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require
it.
24:23: And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the
host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah
and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people
from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto
the king of Damascus.
24:24: For the army of the Syrians came with a small company
of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their
hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.
So they executed judgment against Joash.
24:25: And when they were departed from him, (for they left
him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against
him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and
slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the
city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of
the kings.
24:26: And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad
the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of
Shimrith a Moabitess.
24:27: Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens
laid upon him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold,
they are written in the story of the book of the kings. And
Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.
25:1: Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began
to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem.
And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
25:2: And he did that which was right in the sight of the
LORD, but not with a perfect heart.
25:3: Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established
to him, that he slew his servants that had killed the king
his father.
25:4: But he slew not their children, but did as it is written
in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded,
saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither
shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall
die for his own sin.
25:5: Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them
captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according
to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin:
and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and
found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth
to war, that could handle spear and shield.
25:6: He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour
out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.
25:7: But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king,
let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not
with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.
25:8: But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle:
God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power
to help, and to cast down.
25:9: And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we
do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army
of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to
give thee much more than this.
25:10: Then Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that
was come to h