MLV(i)
1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of Jehovah like David his father,
2 but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and also made molten images for the Baals.
3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom and burnt his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom Jehovah cast out before the sons of Israel. 4 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.
5 Therefore Jehovah his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. And they killed* him and carried away of his a great multitude of captives and brought them to Damascus.
And he was also delivered into the hand of the King of Israel, who killed* him with a great slaughter. 6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah a hundred and twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men, because they had forsaken Jehovah, the God of their fathers. 7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son and Azrikam the ruler of the house and Elkanah who was next to the king.
8 And the sons of Israel carried away captive of their brothers two hundred thousand, women, sons and daughters and also took away much spoil from them and brought the spoil to Samaria.
9 But a prophet of Jehovah was there, whose name was Oded. And he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, Behold, because Jehovah, the God of your* fathers, was angry with Judah, he has delivered them into your* hand. And you* have slain them in a rage which has reached up to heaven.
10 And now you* propose to keep under the sons of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen to you*. Are there not even with you* trespasses of your* own against Jehovah your* God?
11 Now hear me therefore and send back the captives that you* have taken captive of your* brothers. For the fierce wrath of Jehovah is upon you*.
12 Then certain of the heads of the sons of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war, 13 and said to them, You* will not bring in the captives here. For you* propose what will bring upon us a trespass against Jehovah, to add to our sins and to our trespass. For our trespass is great and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the rulers and all the assembly. 15 And the men who have been mentioned by name rose up and took the captives and with the spoil clothed all who were naked among them and dressed them and shod them and gave them to eat and to drink and anointed them and carried all the feeble of them upon donkeys and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.
16 At that time king Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him. 17 For again the Edomites had come and struck Judah and carried away captives. 18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the South of Judah and had taken Beth-shemesh and Aijalon and Gederoth and Soco with the towns of it and Timnah with the towns of it, also Gimzo and the towns of it. And they dwelt there.
19 For Jehovah brought Judah low because of Ahaz King of Israel, for he had dealt wantonly in Judah and trespassed severely against Jehovah.
20 And Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came to him and distressed him, but did not strengthen him. 21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of Jehovah and out of the house of the king and of the rulers and gave it to the king of Assyria, but it did not help him.
22 And in the time of his distress he trespassed yet more against Jehovah, this same king Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which killed* him. And he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, therefore I will sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.
24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God and shut up the doors of the house of Jehovah. And he made altars for him in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 And in every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods and provoked to anger Jehovah, the God of his fathers.
26 Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem. For they did not bring him into the sepulchers of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son reigned instead of him.
29 1 Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that David his father had done.
3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of Jehovah and repaired them. 4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites and gathered them together into the broad place on the east, 5 and said to them, Hear me, you* Levites. Now sanctify yourselves and sanctify the house of Jehovah, the God of your* fathers and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.
6 For our fathers have trespassed and done what was evil in the sight of Jehovah our God and have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of Jehovah and turned their backs. 7 Also they have shut up the doors of the porch and put out the lamps and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.
8 Therefore the wrath of Jehovah was upon Judah and Jerusalem and he has delivered them to be tossed to and fro, to be an astonishment and a hissing, as you* see with your* eyes. 9 For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.
10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with Jehovah, the God of Israel, that his fierce anger may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not be negligent now. For Jehovah has chosen you* to stand before him, to minister to him and that you* should be his ministers and burn incense.
12 Then the Levites arose: Mahath, the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah; 13 and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah, 14 and of the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.
15 And they gathered their brothers and made themselves holy and went in, according to the commandment of the king by the words of Jehovah, to cleanse the house of Jehovah. 16 And the priests went in to the inner part of the house of Jehovah to cleanse it and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of Jehovah into the court of the house of Jehovah. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad to the brook Kidron.
17 Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify and on the eighth day of the month they came to the porch of Jehovah. And they made the house of Jehovah holy in eight days and on the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.
18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king within the palace and said, We have cleansed all the house of Jehovah and the altar of burnt offering with all the vessels of it and the table of showbread with all the vessels of it. 19 Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign cast away when he trespassed, we have prepared and made holy. And behold, they are before the altar of Jehovah.
20 Then Hezekiah the king arose early and gathered the rulers of the city and went up to the house of Jehovah. 21 And they brought seven bullocks and seven rams and seven lambs and seven male-goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of Jehovah.
22 So they killed the bullocks. And the priests received the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. And they killed the rams and sprinkled the blood upon the altar. They also killed the lambs and sprinkled the blood upon the altar. 23 And they brought near the male-goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly. And they laid their hands upon them, 24 and the priests killed them. And they made a sin offering with their blood upon the altar, to make atonement for all Israel. For the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.
25 And he set the Levites in the house of Jehovah with cymbals, with psalteries and with harps, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king's seer and Nathan the prophet. For the commandment was of Jehovah by his prophets. 26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David and the priests with the trumpets.
27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of Jehovah began also and the trumpets, together with the instruments of David King of Israel. 28 And all the assembly worshiped and the singers sang and some blew the trumpet. All this until the burnt offering was finished.
29 And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped. 30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the rulers commanded the Levites to sing praises to Jehovah with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness and they bowed their heads and worshiped.
31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now you* have consecrated yourselves to Jehovah. Come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of Jehovah. And the assembly brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings.
32 And the number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was seventy bullocks, a hundred rams and two hundred lambs. All these were for a burnt offering to Jehovah. 33 And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.
34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings. Therefore their brothers the Levites helped them till the work was ended and until the priests had made themselves holy. For the Levites were more up-in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
35 And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings and with the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of Jehovah was set in order. 36 And Hezekiah rejoiced and all the people, because of what God had prepared for the people; for the thing was done suddenly.
30 1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to Jehovah, the God of Israel. 2 For the king had taken counsel and his rulers and all the assembly in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover in the second month.
3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not made themselves holy in sufficient number, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. 4 And the thing was right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly.
5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to Jehovah, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem. For they had not kept it in great numbers in such sort as it is written.
6 So the posts went with the letters from the king and his rulers throughout all Israel and Judah and according to the commandment of the king, saying, You* sons of Israel, turn again to Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to the remnant of you* who escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 And be you* not like your* fathers and like your* brothers, who trespassed against Jehovah, the God of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as you* see.
8 Now be you* not stiff-necked, as your* fathers were, but yield yourselves to Jehovah and enter into his sanctuary, which he has made holy everlasting and serve Jehovah your* God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you*. 9 For if you* turn again to Jehovah, your* brothers and your* sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will come again into this land. For Jehovah your* God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you*, if you* return to him.
10 So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun. But they laughed them to scorn and mocked them.
11 Nevertheless certain men of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 Also the hand of God came upon Judah to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the rulers by the word of Jehovah.
13 And many people assembled at Jerusalem to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great assembly. 14 And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem and all the altars for incense they took away and cast them into the brook Kidron.
15 Then they killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed and made themselves holy and brought burnt offerings into the house of Jehovah. 16 And they stood in their place after their order, according to the law of Moses the man of God; the priests sprinkled the blood which they received from the hand of the Levites.
17 For there were many in the assembly who had not made themselves holy. Therefore the Levites had charge of killing the Passover offerings for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to Jehovah. 18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than it is written.
For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, The good Jehovah pardon everyone 19 who sets his heart to seek God, Jehovah, the God of his fathers, though he is not according to the purification of the sanctuary. 20 And Jehovah listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.
21 And the sons of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness. And the Levites and the priests praised Jehovah day by day, with loud instruments to Jehovah. 22 And Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who had good understanding in the service of Jehovah. So they ate throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace offerings and making confession to Jehovah, the God of their fathers.
23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep another seven days. And they kept those seven days with gladness. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the assembly for offerings a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep. And the rulers gave to the assembly a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep. And a great number of priests made themselves holy. 25 And all the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the Levites and all the assembly that came out of Israel and the travelers who came out of the land of Israel and who dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.
26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem. For since the time of Solomon the son of David King of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people. And their voice was heard and their prayer came up to his holy habitation, even to heaven.
31 1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke in pieces the pillars and hewed down the Asherim and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, also in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the sons of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
2 And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites after their divisions, every man according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister and to give thanks and to praise in the gates of the camp of Jehovah.
3 Also he appointed the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, namely, for the morning and evening burnt offerings and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and for the new moons and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of Jehovah.
4 Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the law of Jehovah.
5 And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the sons of Israel gave in abundance the first-fruits of grain, new wine and oil and honey and of all the increase of the field. And they brought in the tithe of all things abundantly. 6 And the sons of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep and the tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated to Jehovah their God and laid them by heaps. 7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps and finished them in the seventh month.
8 And when Hezekiah and the rulers came and saw the heaps, they blessed Jehovah and his people Israel. 9 Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 10 And Azariah the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, Since they began to bring the oblations into the house of Jehovah, we have eaten and had enough and have plenty left. For Jehovah has blessed his people and what is left is this great store.
11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of Jehovah and they prepared them. 12 And they brought in the oblations and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully. And Conaniah the Levite was ruler over them and Shimei his brother was second.
13 And Jehiel and Azaziah and Nahath and Asahel and Jerimoth and Jozabad and Eliel and Ismachiah and Mahath and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.
14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper at the east gate, was over the free-will offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of Jehovah and the most holy things.
15 And under him were Eden and Miniamin and Jeshua and Shemaiah, Amariah and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their office of trust, to give to their brothers by divisions, as well to the great as to the small, 16 besides those who were reckoned by genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even everyone that entered into the house of Jehovah, as the duty of every day required, for their service in their offices according to their divisions, 17 and those who were reckoned by genealogy of the priests by their fathers' houses and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their offices by their divisions, 18 and those who were reckoned by genealogy of all their little ones, their wives and their sons and their daughters, through all the congregation. For in their office of trust they made themselves holy in holiness.
19 Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every city, there were men who were mentioned by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests and to all who were reckoned by genealogy among the Levites.
20 And thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah. And he worked what was good and right and faithful before Jehovah his God. 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God and in the law and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart and prospered.
32 1 After these things and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered into Judah and encamped against the fortified cities and thought to win them for himself.
2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib came and that he intended to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he took counsel with his rulers and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were outside the city. And they helped him. 4 So there was gathered together many people. And they stopped all the fountains and the brook that flowed through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?
5 And he took courage and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised it up to the towers and the other wall outside and strengthened Millo in the city of David and made weapons and shields in abundance.
6 And he set captains of war over the people and gathered them together to him in the broad place at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, 7 Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid nor dismayed of the king of Assyria, nor of all the multitude that is with him. For there is a greater with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is Jehovah our God to help us and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
9 After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem (now he was before Lachish and all his power with him) to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying, 10 Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, On what do you* trust that you* remain in the siege in Jerusalem? 11 Does not Hezekiah persuade you*, to give you* over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, Jehovah our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
12 Has not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, You* will worship before one altar and upon it you* will burn incense?
13 Do you* not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of the lands in any way able to deliver their land out of my hand? 14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations, which my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand that your* God should be able to deliver you* out of my hand?
15 Now therefore do not let Hezekiah deceive you*, nor persuade you* after this manner, neither believe him. For no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my hand and out of the hand of my fathers. How much less will your* God deliver you* out of my hand?
16 And his servants spoke yet more against Jehovah God and against his servant Hezekiah. 17 He also wrote letters, to rail on Jehovah, the God of Israel and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of the lands, which have not delivered their people out of my hand, so will the God of Hezekiah not deliver his people out of my hand.
18 And they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them and to trouble them, that they might take the city. 19 And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem, as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.
20 And Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried out to heaven. 21 And Jehovah sent a messenger who cut off all the mighty men of valor and the leaders and captains, in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, those who came out from his own guts killed him there with the sword.
22 Thus Jehovah saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all others and guided them on every side. 23 And many brought gifts to Jehovah to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah. So that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from thereafter.
24 In those days Hezekiah was sick even to death and he prayed to Jehovah. And he spoke to him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not render again according to the benefit done to him. For his heart was lifted up. Therefore there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of Jehovah did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
27 And Hezekiah had exceedingly much riches and honor. And he provided for him treasuries for silver and for gold and for precious stones and for spices and for shields and for all manner of desirable vessels, 28 also store-houses for the increase of grain and new wine and oil and stalls for all manner of beasts and flocks in folds. 29 Moreover he provided for him cities and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance. For God had given him very much substance.
30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper spring of the waters of Gihon and brought them straight down on the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
31 However in the business of the ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers and they buried him in the ascent of the sepulchers of the sons of David. And all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned instead of him.
3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom and burnt his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom Jehovah cast out before the sons of Israel. 4 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.
5 Therefore Jehovah his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. And they killed* him and carried away of his a great multitude of captives and brought them to Damascus.
And he was also delivered into the hand of the King of Israel, who killed* him with a great slaughter. 6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah a hundred and twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men, because they had forsaken Jehovah, the God of their fathers. 7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son and Azrikam the ruler of the house and Elkanah who was next to the king.
8 And the sons of Israel carried away captive of their brothers two hundred thousand, women, sons and daughters and also took away much spoil from them and brought the spoil to Samaria.
9 But a prophet of Jehovah was there, whose name was Oded. And he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, Behold, because Jehovah, the God of your* fathers, was angry with Judah, he has delivered them into your* hand. And you* have slain them in a rage which has reached up to heaven.
10 And now you* propose to keep under the sons of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen to you*. Are there not even with you* trespasses of your* own against Jehovah your* God?
11 Now hear me therefore and send back the captives that you* have taken captive of your* brothers. For the fierce wrath of Jehovah is upon you*.
12 Then certain of the heads of the sons of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war, 13 and said to them, You* will not bring in the captives here. For you* propose what will bring upon us a trespass against Jehovah, to add to our sins and to our trespass. For our trespass is great and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the rulers and all the assembly. 15 And the men who have been mentioned by name rose up and took the captives and with the spoil clothed all who were naked among them and dressed them and shod them and gave them to eat and to drink and anointed them and carried all the feeble of them upon donkeys and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.
16 At that time king Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him. 17 For again the Edomites had come and struck Judah and carried away captives. 18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the South of Judah and had taken Beth-shemesh and Aijalon and Gederoth and Soco with the towns of it and Timnah with the towns of it, also Gimzo and the towns of it. And they dwelt there.
19 For Jehovah brought Judah low because of Ahaz King of Israel, for he had dealt wantonly in Judah and trespassed severely against Jehovah.
20 And Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came to him and distressed him, but did not strengthen him. 21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of Jehovah and out of the house of the king and of the rulers and gave it to the king of Assyria, but it did not help him.
22 And in the time of his distress he trespassed yet more against Jehovah, this same king Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which killed* him. And he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, therefore I will sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.
24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God and shut up the doors of the house of Jehovah. And he made altars for him in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 And in every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods and provoked to anger Jehovah, the God of his fathers.
26 Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem. For they did not bring him into the sepulchers of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son reigned instead of him.
29 1 Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that David his father had done.
3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of Jehovah and repaired them. 4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites and gathered them together into the broad place on the east, 5 and said to them, Hear me, you* Levites. Now sanctify yourselves and sanctify the house of Jehovah, the God of your* fathers and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.
6 For our fathers have trespassed and done what was evil in the sight of Jehovah our God and have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of Jehovah and turned their backs. 7 Also they have shut up the doors of the porch and put out the lamps and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.
8 Therefore the wrath of Jehovah was upon Judah and Jerusalem and he has delivered them to be tossed to and fro, to be an astonishment and a hissing, as you* see with your* eyes. 9 For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.
10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with Jehovah, the God of Israel, that his fierce anger may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not be negligent now. For Jehovah has chosen you* to stand before him, to minister to him and that you* should be his ministers and burn incense.
12 Then the Levites arose: Mahath, the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah; 13 and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah, 14 and of the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.
15 And they gathered their brothers and made themselves holy and went in, according to the commandment of the king by the words of Jehovah, to cleanse the house of Jehovah. 16 And the priests went in to the inner part of the house of Jehovah to cleanse it and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of Jehovah into the court of the house of Jehovah. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad to the brook Kidron.
17 Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify and on the eighth day of the month they came to the porch of Jehovah. And they made the house of Jehovah holy in eight days and on the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.
18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king within the palace and said, We have cleansed all the house of Jehovah and the altar of burnt offering with all the vessels of it and the table of showbread with all the vessels of it. 19 Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign cast away when he trespassed, we have prepared and made holy. And behold, they are before the altar of Jehovah.
20 Then Hezekiah the king arose early and gathered the rulers of the city and went up to the house of Jehovah. 21 And they brought seven bullocks and seven rams and seven lambs and seven male-goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of Jehovah.
22 So they killed the bullocks. And the priests received the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. And they killed the rams and sprinkled the blood upon the altar. They also killed the lambs and sprinkled the blood upon the altar. 23 And they brought near the male-goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly. And they laid their hands upon them, 24 and the priests killed them. And they made a sin offering with their blood upon the altar, to make atonement for all Israel. For the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.
25 And he set the Levites in the house of Jehovah with cymbals, with psalteries and with harps, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king's seer and Nathan the prophet. For the commandment was of Jehovah by his prophets. 26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David and the priests with the trumpets.
27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of Jehovah began also and the trumpets, together with the instruments of David King of Israel. 28 And all the assembly worshiped and the singers sang and some blew the trumpet. All this until the burnt offering was finished.
29 And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped. 30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the rulers commanded the Levites to sing praises to Jehovah with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness and they bowed their heads and worshiped.
31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now you* have consecrated yourselves to Jehovah. Come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of Jehovah. And the assembly brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings.
32 And the number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was seventy bullocks, a hundred rams and two hundred lambs. All these were for a burnt offering to Jehovah. 33 And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.
34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings. Therefore their brothers the Levites helped them till the work was ended and until the priests had made themselves holy. For the Levites were more up-in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
35 And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings and with the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of Jehovah was set in order. 36 And Hezekiah rejoiced and all the people, because of what God had prepared for the people; for the thing was done suddenly.
30 1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to Jehovah, the God of Israel. 2 For the king had taken counsel and his rulers and all the assembly in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover in the second month.
3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not made themselves holy in sufficient number, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. 4 And the thing was right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly.
5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to Jehovah, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem. For they had not kept it in great numbers in such sort as it is written.
6 So the posts went with the letters from the king and his rulers throughout all Israel and Judah and according to the commandment of the king, saying, You* sons of Israel, turn again to Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to the remnant of you* who escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 And be you* not like your* fathers and like your* brothers, who trespassed against Jehovah, the God of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as you* see.
8 Now be you* not stiff-necked, as your* fathers were, but yield yourselves to Jehovah and enter into his sanctuary, which he has made holy everlasting and serve Jehovah your* God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you*. 9 For if you* turn again to Jehovah, your* brothers and your* sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will come again into this land. For Jehovah your* God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you*, if you* return to him.
10 So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun. But they laughed them to scorn and mocked them.
11 Nevertheless certain men of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 Also the hand of God came upon Judah to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the rulers by the word of Jehovah.
13 And many people assembled at Jerusalem to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great assembly. 14 And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem and all the altars for incense they took away and cast them into the brook Kidron.
15 Then they killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed and made themselves holy and brought burnt offerings into the house of Jehovah. 16 And they stood in their place after their order, according to the law of Moses the man of God; the priests sprinkled the blood which they received from the hand of the Levites.
17 For there were many in the assembly who had not made themselves holy. Therefore the Levites had charge of killing the Passover offerings for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to Jehovah. 18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than it is written.
For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, The good Jehovah pardon everyone 19 who sets his heart to seek God, Jehovah, the God of his fathers, though he is not according to the purification of the sanctuary. 20 And Jehovah listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.
21 And the sons of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness. And the Levites and the priests praised Jehovah day by day, with loud instruments to Jehovah. 22 And Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who had good understanding in the service of Jehovah. So they ate throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace offerings and making confession to Jehovah, the God of their fathers.
23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep another seven days. And they kept those seven days with gladness. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the assembly for offerings a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep. And the rulers gave to the assembly a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep. And a great number of priests made themselves holy. 25 And all the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the Levites and all the assembly that came out of Israel and the travelers who came out of the land of Israel and who dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.
26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem. For since the time of Solomon the son of David King of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people. And their voice was heard and their prayer came up to his holy habitation, even to heaven.
31 1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke in pieces the pillars and hewed down the Asherim and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, also in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the sons of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
2 And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites after their divisions, every man according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister and to give thanks and to praise in the gates of the camp of Jehovah.
3 Also he appointed the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, namely, for the morning and evening burnt offerings and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and for the new moons and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of Jehovah.
4 Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the law of Jehovah.
5 And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the sons of Israel gave in abundance the first-fruits of grain, new wine and oil and honey and of all the increase of the field. And they brought in the tithe of all things abundantly. 6 And the sons of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep and the tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated to Jehovah their God and laid them by heaps. 7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps and finished them in the seventh month.
8 And when Hezekiah and the rulers came and saw the heaps, they blessed Jehovah and his people Israel. 9 Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 10 And Azariah the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, Since they began to bring the oblations into the house of Jehovah, we have eaten and had enough and have plenty left. For Jehovah has blessed his people and what is left is this great store.
11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of Jehovah and they prepared them. 12 And they brought in the oblations and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully. And Conaniah the Levite was ruler over them and Shimei his brother was second.
13 And Jehiel and Azaziah and Nahath and Asahel and Jerimoth and Jozabad and Eliel and Ismachiah and Mahath and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.
14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper at the east gate, was over the free-will offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of Jehovah and the most holy things.
15 And under him were Eden and Miniamin and Jeshua and Shemaiah, Amariah and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their office of trust, to give to their brothers by divisions, as well to the great as to the small, 16 besides those who were reckoned by genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even everyone that entered into the house of Jehovah, as the duty of every day required, for their service in their offices according to their divisions, 17 and those who were reckoned by genealogy of the priests by their fathers' houses and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their offices by their divisions, 18 and those who were reckoned by genealogy of all their little ones, their wives and their sons and their daughters, through all the congregation. For in their office of trust they made themselves holy in holiness.
19 Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every city, there were men who were mentioned by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests and to all who were reckoned by genealogy among the Levites.
20 And thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah. And he worked what was good and right and faithful before Jehovah his God. 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God and in the law and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart and prospered.
32 1 After these things and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered into Judah and encamped against the fortified cities and thought to win them for himself.
2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib came and that he intended to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he took counsel with his rulers and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were outside the city. And they helped him. 4 So there was gathered together many people. And they stopped all the fountains and the brook that flowed through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?
5 And he took courage and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised it up to the towers and the other wall outside and strengthened Millo in the city of David and made weapons and shields in abundance.
6 And he set captains of war over the people and gathered them together to him in the broad place at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, 7 Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid nor dismayed of the king of Assyria, nor of all the multitude that is with him. For there is a greater with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is Jehovah our God to help us and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
9 After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem (now he was before Lachish and all his power with him) to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying, 10 Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, On what do you* trust that you* remain in the siege in Jerusalem? 11 Does not Hezekiah persuade you*, to give you* over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, Jehovah our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
12 Has not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, You* will worship before one altar and upon it you* will burn incense?
13 Do you* not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of the lands in any way able to deliver their land out of my hand? 14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations, which my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand that your* God should be able to deliver you* out of my hand?
15 Now therefore do not let Hezekiah deceive you*, nor persuade you* after this manner, neither believe him. For no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my hand and out of the hand of my fathers. How much less will your* God deliver you* out of my hand?
16 And his servants spoke yet more against Jehovah God and against his servant Hezekiah. 17 He also wrote letters, to rail on Jehovah, the God of Israel and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of the lands, which have not delivered their people out of my hand, so will the God of Hezekiah not deliver his people out of my hand.
18 And they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them and to trouble them, that they might take the city. 19 And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem, as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.
20 And Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried out to heaven. 21 And Jehovah sent a messenger who cut off all the mighty men of valor and the leaders and captains, in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, those who came out from his own guts killed him there with the sword.
22 Thus Jehovah saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all others and guided them on every side. 23 And many brought gifts to Jehovah to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah. So that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from thereafter.
24 In those days Hezekiah was sick even to death and he prayed to Jehovah. And he spoke to him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not render again according to the benefit done to him. For his heart was lifted up. Therefore there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of Jehovah did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
27 And Hezekiah had exceedingly much riches and honor. And he provided for him treasuries for silver and for gold and for precious stones and for spices and for shields and for all manner of desirable vessels, 28 also store-houses for the increase of grain and new wine and oil and stalls for all manner of beasts and flocks in folds. 29 Moreover he provided for him cities and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance. For God had given him very much substance.
30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper spring of the waters of Gihon and brought them straight down on the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
31 However in the business of the ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers and they buried him in the ascent of the sepulchers of the sons of David. And all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned instead of him.