Category:Second Book of Chronicles

THE SECOND BOOK OF PARALIPOMENON

2 Chronicles Chapter 1
'Solomon offers sacrifices at Gabaon. His choice of wisdom which God gives him.'



1:1. And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him to a high degree.

1:2. And Solomon gave orders to all Israel, to the captains of thousands, and of hundreds, and to the rulers, and to the judges of all Israel, and the heads of the families:

1:3. And he went with the entire multitude to the high place of Gabaon, where was the tabernacle of the covenant of the Lord, which Moses the servant of God made, in the wilderness.

1:4. For David had brought the ark of God from Cariathiarim to the place, which he had prepared for it, and where he had pitched a tabernacle for it, that is, in Jerusalem.

1:5. And the altar of brass, which Beseleel the son of Uri the son of Hur had made, was there before the tabernacle of the Lord: and Solomon and all the assembly sought it:

1:6. And Solomon went up thither to the brazen altar, before the tabernacle of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up on it a thousand victims.

1:7. And behold that night God appeared to him, saying: Ask what you will that I should give you.

1:8. And Solomon said to God: You have shown great kindness to my father David: and have made me king in his stead.

1:9. Now therefore, O Lord God, let your word be fulfilled, which you have promised to David my father: for you have made me king over your great people, which is as innumerable as the dust of the earth.

1:10. Give me wisdom and knowledge that I may come in and go out before your people: for who can worthily judge this your people, which is so great?

1:11. And God said to Solomon: Because this choice has pleased your heart, and you have not asked riches, and wealth, and glory, nor the lives of them that hate you, nor many days of life: but have asked wisdom and knowledge, to be able to judge my people, over which I have made you king,

1:12. Wisdom and knowledge are granted to you: and I will give you riches, and wealth, and glory, so that none of the kings before you, nor after you, shall be like you.

1:13. Then Solomon came from the high place of Gabaon to Jerusalem before the tabernacle of the covenant, and reigned over Israel.

1:14. And he gathered to himself chariots and horsemen, and he had a thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen: and he placed them in the cities of the chariots, and with the king in Jerusalem.

1:15. And the king made silver and gold to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees as sycamores, which grow in the plains in great multitude.

1:16. And there were horses brought him from Egypt, and from Coa by the king's merchants, who went, and bought at a price,

1:17. A chariot of four horses for six hundred pieces of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty: in like manner market was made in all the kingdoms of the Hethites, and of the kings of Syria.

2 Chronicles Chapter 2
Solomon's embassy to Hiram, who sends him a skillful workman and timber.

2:1. And Solomon determined to build a house to the name of the Lord, and a palace for himself.

2:2. And he numbered out seventy thousand men to bear burdens, and eighty thousand to hew stones in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred to oversee them.

2:3. He sent also to Hiram king of Tyre, saying: As you didst with David my father, and didst send him cedars, to build him a house, in which he dwelt:

2:4. So do with me that I may build a house to the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to burn incense before him, and to perfume with aromatical spices, and for the continual setting forth of bread, and for the holocausts, morning and evening, and on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and the solemnities of the Lord our God forever, which are commanded for Israel.

2:5. For the house which I desire to build, is great: for our God is great above all gods.

'''2:6. Who then can be able to build him a worthy house? if heaven, and the heavens of heavens cannot contain him: who am I that I should be able to build him a house? but to this end only, that incense may be burnt before him.'''

2:7. Send me therefore a skillful man, that knows how to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, and in iron, in purple, in scarlet and in blue, and that has skill in engraving, with the artificers, which I have with me in Judea and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.



2:8. Send me also cedars, and fir trees, and pine trees from Libanus: for I know that your servants are skilful in cutting timber in Libanus, and my servants shall be with your servants,

'''2:9. To provide me timber in abundance. For the house which I desire to build, is to be exceeding great, and glorious.'''

2:10. And I will give your servants the workmen that are to cut down the trees, for their food twenty thousand cores of wheat, and as many cores of barley, and twenty thousand measures of wine, and twenty thousand measures of oil.

2:11. And Hiram king of Tyre sent a letter to Solomon, saying: Because the Lord has loved his people, therefore he has made you king over them.

2:12. And he added, saying: Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given to king David a wise and knowing son, endued with understanding and prudence, to build a house to the Lord, and a palace for himself.

2:13. I therefore have sent you my father Hiram, a wise and most skillful man,

2:14. The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, whose father was a Tyrian, who knows how to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, and in iron, and in marble, and in timber, in purple also, and violet, and silk and scarlet: and who knows to grave all sort of graving, and to devise ingeniously all that there may be need of in the work with your artificers, and with the artificers of my lord David your father.



2:15. The wheat therefore, and the barley and the oil, and the wine, which you, my lord, have promised, send to your servants.

2:16. And we will cut down as many trees out of Libanus, as you shall want, and will convey them in floats by sea to Joppe: and it will be your part to bring them thence to Jerusalem.

2:17. And Solomon numbered all the proselytes in the land of Israel, after the numbering which David his father had made, and they were found a hundred and fifty-three thousand and six hundred.

2:18. And he set seventy thousand of them to carry burdens on their shoulders, and eighty thousand to hew stones in the mountains: and three thousand and six hundred to be overseers of the work of the people.

2 Chronicles Chapter 3
The plan and ornaments of the temple: the cherubims, the veil, and the pillars.

3:1. And Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, in mount Moria, which had been shown to David his father, in the place which David had prepared in the thrashingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

3:2. And he began to build in the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.

3:3. Now these are the foundations, which Solomon laid, to build the house of God, the length by the first measure sixty cubits, the breadth twenty cubits.

3:4. And the porch in the front, which was extended in length according to the measure of the breadth of the house, twenty cubits: and the height was a hundred and twenty cubits: and he overlaid it within with pure gold.

3:5. And the greater house he ceiled with deal boards, and overlaid them with plates of fine gold throughout: and he graved in them palm trees, and like little chains interlaced with one another.

3:6. He paved also the floor of the temple with most precious marble, of great beauty.

3:7. And the gold of the plates with which he overlaid the house, and the beams thereof, and the posts, and the walls, and the doors was of the finest: and he graved cherubims on the walls.

3:8. He made also the house of the holy of holies: the length of it according to the breadth of the temple, twenty cubits, and the breadth of it in like manner twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with plates of gold, amounting to about six hundred talents.

3:9. He made also nails of gold, and the weight of every nail was fifty sicles: the upper chambers also he overlaid with gold.

3:10. He made also in the house of the holy of holies two cherubims of image work: and he overlaid them with gold.

3:11. The wings of the cherubims were extended twenty cubits, so that one wing was five cubits long, and reached to the wall of the house: and the other was also five cubits long, and reached to the wing of the other cherub.

3:12. In like manner the wing of the other cherub, was five cubits long, and reached to the wall: and his other wing was five cubits long, and touched the wing of the other cherub.

3:13. So the wings of the two cherubims were spread forth, and were extended twenty cubits: and they stood upright on their feet, and their faces were turned toward the house without.

3:14. He made also a veil of violet, purple, scarlet, and silk: and wrought in it cherubims.

3:15. He made also before the doors of the temple two pillars, which were five and thirty cubits high: and their chapiters were five cubits.

3:16. He made also as it were little chains in the oracle, and he put them on the heads of the pillars: and a hundred pomegranates, which he put between the little chains.

3:17. These pillars he put at the entrance of the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left: that which was on the right hand, he called Jachin: and that on the left hand, Booz.

2 Chronicles Chapter 4


The altar of brass, the molten sea upon twelve oxen, the ten loaves, the candlesticks and other vessels and ornaments of the temple.

4:1. He made also an altar of brass twenty cubits long, and twenty cubits broad, and ten cubits high.

4:2. Also a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass: it was five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits compassed it round about.

4:3. And under it there was the likeness of oxen, and certain engravings on the outside of ten cubits compassed the belly of the sea, as it were with two rows.

4:4. And the oxen were cast: and the sea itself was set upon the twelve oxen, three of which looked toward the north, and other three toward the west: and other three toward the south, and the other three that remained toward the east, and the sea stood upon them: and the hinder parts of the oxen were inward under the sea.

4:5. Now the thickness of it was a handbreadth, and the brim of it was like the brim of a cup, or of a crisped lily: and it held three thousand measures.

4:6. He made also ten lavers: and he set five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them all such things as they were to offer for holocausts: but the sea was for the priests to wash in.

4:7. And he made ten golden candlesticks, according to the form which they were commanded to be made by: and he set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.

'''4:8. Moreover also ten tables: and he set them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. Also a hundred bowls of gold.'''

4:9. He made also the court of the priests, and a great hall, and doors in the hall, which he covered with brass.

4:10. And he set the sea on the right side over against the east toward the south.

4:11. And Hiram made caldrons, and fleshhooks, and bowls: and finished all the king's work the house of God:

4:12. That is to say, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters, and the network, to cover the chapiters over the pommels.

4:13. And four hundred pomegranates, and two wreaths of network, so that two rows of pomegranates were joined to each wreath, to cover the pommels, and the chapiters of the pillars.

4:14. He made also bases, and lavers, which he set upon the bases:

4:15. One sea, and twelve oxen under the sea;

'''4:16. And the caldrons, and fleshhooks, and bowls. All the vessels did Hiram his father make for Solomon in the house of the Lord of the finest brass.'''

4:17. In the country near the Jordan did the king cast them, in a clay ground between Sochot and Saredatha.

4:18. And the multitude of vessels was innumerable, so that the weight of the brass was not known.

4:19. And Solomon made all the vessels for the house of God, and the golden altar, and the tables, upon which were the loaves of proposition,

4:20. The candlesticks also of most pure gold with their lamps to give light before the oracle, according to the manner.

4:21. And certain flowers, and lamps, and golden tongs: all were made of the finest gold.

'''4:22. The vessels also for the perfumes, and the censers, and the bowls, and the mortars, of pure gold. And he graved the doors of the inner temple, that is, for the holy of holies: and the doors of the temple without were of gold. And thus all the work was finished which Solomon made in the house of the Lord.'''

2 Chronicles Chapter 5
The ark is brought with great solemnity into the temple: the temple is filled with the glory of God.

5:1. Then Solomon brought in all those things that David his father had vowed, the silver, and the gold, and all the vessels he put among the treasures of the house of God.



5:2. And after this he gathered together the ancients of Israel and all the princes of the tribes, and the heads of the families, of the children of Israel to Jerusalem, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion.

5:3. And all the men of Israel came to the king in the solemn day of the seventh month.

5:4. And when all the ancients of Israel were come, the Levites took up the ark,

'''5:5. And brought it in, together with all the furniture of the tabernacle. And the priests with the Levites carried the vessels of the sanctuary, which were in the tabernacle.'''

5:6. And king Solomon and all the assembly of Israel and all that were gathered together before the ark, sacrificed rams, and oxen without number: so great was the multitude of the victims.

5:7. And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord into its place, that is, to the oracle of the temple, into the holy of holies under the wings of the cherubims:

5:8. So that the cherubims spread their wings over the place, in which the ark was set, and covered the ark itself and its staves.

'''5:9. Now the ends of the staves wherewith the ark was carried, because they were some thing longer, were seen before the oracle: but if a man were a little outward, he could not see them. So the ark has been there unto this day.'''

5:10. And there was nothing else in the ark but the two tables which Moses put there at Horeb when the Lord gave the law to the children of Israel, at their coming out of Egypt.

5:11. Now when the priests were come out of the sanctuary, for all the priests that could be found there, were sanctified: and as yet at that time the courses and orders of the ministries were not divided among them,

5:12. Both the Levites and the singing men, that is, both they that were under Asaph, and they that were under Heman, and they that were under Idithun, with their sons, and their brethren, clothed with fine linen, sounded with cymbals, and psalteries, and harps, standing on the east side of the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests, sounding with trumpets.

5:13. So when they all sounded together, both with trumpets, and voice, and cymbals, and organs, and with diverse kind of musical instruments, and lifted up their voice on high: the sound was heard afar off, so that when they began to praise the Lord, and to say: Give glory to the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endures forever: the house of God was filled with a cloud.

'''5:14. Nor could the priests stand and minister by reason of the cloud. For the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.'''



2 Chronicles Chapter 6
Solomon's blessings and prayer.

6:1. Then Solomon said: The Lord promised that he would dwell in a cloud.

6:2. But I have built a house to his name, that he might dwell there forever.

6:3. And the king turned his face, and blessed all the multitude of Israel for all the multitude stood attentive and he said:

6:4. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who has accomplished in deed that which he spoke to David my father, saying:

6:5. From the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel, for a house to be built in it to my name: neither chose I any other man, to be the ruler of my people Israel.

6:6. But I chose Jerusalem, that my name might be there: and I chose David to set him over my people Israel.

6:7. And whereas David my father had a mind to build a house to the name of the Lord the God of Israel,

6:8. The Lord said to him: Forasmuch as it was your will to build a house to my name, you have done well indeed in having such a will:

6:9. But you shall not build the house, but your son, who shall come out of your loins, he shall build a house to my name.

6:10. The Lord therefore has accomplished his word which he spoke: and I am risen up in the place of David my father, and sit upon the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised: and have built a house to the name of the Lord God of Israel.

6:11. And I have put in it the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, which he made with the children of Israel.

6:12. And he stood before the altar of the Lord, in presence of all the multitude of Israel, and stretched forth his hands.

6:13. For Solomon had made a brazen scaffold, and had set it in the midst of the temple, which was five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high: and he stood upon it: then kneeling down in the presence of all the multitude of Israel, and lifting up his hands towards heaven,

6:14. He said: O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven nor in earth: who keepest covenant and mercy with your servants, that walk before you with all their hearts:



6:15. Who have performed to your servant David my father all that you have promised him: and have accomplished in fact, what you have spoken with your mouth, as also the present time proveth.

6:16. Now then, O Lord God of Israel, fulfil to your servant David my father, whatever you have promised him, saying: There shall not fail you a man in my sight, to sit upon the throne of Israel: yet so that your children take heed to their ways, and walk in my law, as you have walked before me.

6:17. And now, Lord God of Israel, let your word be established which you have spoken to your servant David.

'''6:18. Is it credible then that God should dwell with men on the earth? If heaven and the heavens of heavens do not contain you, how much less this house, which I have built?'''

6:19. But to this end only it is made, that you mayest regard the prayer of your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God: and mayest hear the prayers which your servant poureth out before you.

6:20. That you mayest open your eyes upon this house day and night, upon the place wherein you have promised that your name should be called upon,

'''6:21. And that you wouldst hear the prayer which your servant prayeth in it: hearken then to the prayers of your servant, and of your people Israel. Whoever shall pray in its place, hear you from your dwelling place, that is, from heaven, and show mercy.'''

6:22. If any man sin against his neighbor, and come to swear against him, and bind himself with a curse before the altar in this house:

6:23. Then hear you from heaven, and do justice to your servants, so to requite the wicked by making his wickedness fall upon his own head, and to revenge the just, rewarding him according to his justice.

6:24. If your people Israel be overcome by their enemies, (for they will sin against you,) and being converted shall do penance, and call upon your name, and pray to you in this place,

6:25. Then hear you from heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back into the land which you gave to them, and their fathers.

6:26. If the heavens be shut up, and there fall no rain by reason of the sin of the people, and they shall pray to you in this place, and confess to your name, and be converted from their sins, where you do afflict them,

6:27. Then hear you from heaven, O Lord, and forgive the sins of your servants and of your people Israel and teach them the good way in which they may walk: and give rain to your land which you have given to your people to possess.

6:28. If a famine arise in the land, or a pestilence or blasting, or mildew, or locusts, or caterpillars: or if their enemies waste the country, and besiege the cities, whatever scourge or infirmity shall be upon them:

6:29. Then if any of your people Israel, knowing his own scourge and infirmity shall pray, and shall spread forth his hands in this house,

6:30. Hear you from heaven, from your high dwelling place, and forgive, and render to every one according to his ways, which you know him to have in his heart: for you only know the hearts of the children of men:

6:31. That they may fear you, and walk in your ways all the days that they live upon the face of the land, which you have given to our fathers.



6:32. If the stranger also, who is not of your people Israel, come from a far country, for the sake of your great name, and your strong hand, and your stretched out arm, and adore in this place:

6:33. Hear you from heaven your firm dwelling place, and do all that which that stranger shall call upon you for: that all the people of the earth may know your name, and may fear you, as your people Israel, and may know, that your name is invoked upon this house, which I have built.

6:34. If your people go out to war against their enemies, by the way that you shall send them, and adore you towards the way of this city, which you have chosen, and the house which I have built to your name:

6:35. Then hear you from heaven their prayers, and their supplications, and revenge them.

6:36. And if they sin against you (for there is no man that does not sin) and you be angry with them, and deliver them up to their enemies, and they lead them away captive to a land either afar off, or near at hand,

6:37. And if they be converted in their heart in the land to which they were led captive, and do penance, and pray to you in the land of their captivity saying: We have sinned, we have done wickedly, we have dealt unjustly:

6:38. And return to you with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their captivity, to which they were led away, and adore you towards the way of their own land which you gave their fathers, and of the city, which you have chosen, and the house which I have built to your name:

6:39. Then hear you from heaven, that is, from your firm dwelling place, their prayers, and do judgment, and forgive your people, although they have sinned:

6:40. For you are my God: let your eyes, I beseech you, be open, and let your ears be attentive to the prayer, that is made in this place.

6:41. Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into your resting place, you and the ark of your strength: let your priests, O Lord God, put on salvation, and your saints rejoice in good things.

6:42. O Lord God, turn not away the face of your anointed: remember the mercies of David your servant.

2 Chronicles Chapter 7
'Fire from heaven consumes the sacrifices. The solemnity of the dedication of the temple. God signifies his having heard Solomon's prayer: yet so if he continue to serve him.'

7:1. And when Solomon had made an end of his prayer, fire came down from heaven, and consumed the holocausts and the victims: and the majesty of the Lord filled the house.

7:2. Neither could the priests enter into the temple of the Lord, because the majesty of the Lord had filled the temple of the Lord.

7:3. Moreover all the children of Israel saw the fire coming down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house: and falling down with their faces to the ground, upon the stone pavement, they adored and praised the Lord: because he is good, because his mercy endures forever.

7:4. And the king and all the people sacrificed victims before the Lord.

7:5. And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand oxen, and one hundred and twenty thousand rams: and the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

7:6. And the priests stood in their offices: and the Levites with the instruments of music of the Lord, which king David made to praise the Lord: because his mercy endures forever, singing the hymns of David by their ministry: and the priests sounded with trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.

7:7. Solomon also sanctified the middle of the court before the temple of the Lord: for he offered there the holocausts, and the fat of the peace offerings: because the brazen altar, which he had made, could not hold the holocausts and the sacrifices and the fat:

7:8. And Solomon kept the solemnity at that time seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entrance of Emath to the torrent of Egypt.

7:9. And he made on the eighth day a solemn assembly, because he had kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and had celebrated the solemnity seven days.

7:10. So on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent away the people to their dwellings, joyful and glad for the good that the Lord had done to David, and to Solomon, and to all Israel his people.



7:11. And Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all that he had designed in his heart to do, in the house of the Lord, and in his own house, and he prospered.

7:12. And the Lord appeared to him by night, and said: I have heard your prayer, and I have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice.

7:13. If I shut up heaven, and there fall no rain, or if I give orders, and command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people:

7:14. And my people, upon whom my name is called, being converted, shall make supplication to me, and seek out my face, and do penance for their most wicked ways: then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and will heal their land.

7:15. My eyes also shall be open, and my ears attentive to the prayer of him that shall pray in this place.

7:16. For I have chosen, and have sanctified this place, that my name may be there forever, and my eyes and my heart may remain there perpetually.

7:17. And as for you, if you walk before me, as David your father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and keep my justices and my judgments:

7:18. I will raise up the throne of your kingdom, as I promised to David your father, saying: There shall not fail you a man of your stock to be ruler in Israel.

7:19. But if you turn away, and forsake my justices, and my commandments which I have set before you, and shall go and serve strange gods, and adore them,

7:20. I will pluck you up by the root out of my land which I have given you: and this house which I have sanctified to my name, I will cast away from before my face, and will make it a byword, and an example among all nations.

7:21. And this house shall be for a proverb to all that pass by, and they shall be astonished and say: Why has the Lord done thus to this land, and to this house?

7:22. And they shall answer: Because they forsook the Lord the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on strange gods, and adored them, and worshipped them: therefore all these evils are come upon them.

2 Chronicles Chapter 8
Solomon's buildings and other acts.

8:1. And at the end of twenty years after Solomon had built the house of the Lord and his own house:

8:2. He built the cities which Hiram had given to Solomon, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.

8:3. He went also into Emath Suba, and possessed it.

8:4. And he built Palmira in the desert, and he built other strong cities in Emath.

8:5. And he built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, walled cities with gates and bars and locks.

'''8:6. Balaath also and all the strong cities that were Solomon's, and all the cities of the chariots, and the cities of the horsemen. All that Solomon had a mind, and designed, he built in Jerusalem and in Libanus, and in all the land of his dominion.'''

8:7. All the people that were left of the Hethites, and the Amorrhites, and the Pherezites, and the Hevites, and the Jebusites, that were not of the stock of Israel:

8:8. Of their children, and of the posterity, whom the children of Israel had not slain, Solomon made to be the tributaries, unto this day.

8:9. But of the children of Israel he set none to serve in the king's works: for they were men of war, and chief captains, and rulers of his chariots and horsemen.

8:10. And all the chief captains of king Solomon's army were two hundred and fifty, who taught the people.



'''8:11. And he removed the daughter of Pharaoh from the city of David, to the house which he had built for her. For the king said: My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, for it is sanctified: because the ark of the Lord came into it.'''

8:12. Then Solomon offered holocausts to the Lord upon the altar of the Lord which he had built before the porch,

8:13. That every day an offering might be made on it according to the ordinance of Moses, in the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the festival days three times a year, that is to say, 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 offices of the priests in their ministries: and the Levites in their order to give praise, and minister before the priests according to the duty of every day: and the porters in their divisions by gate and gate: for so David the man of God had commanded.

8:15. And the priests and Levites departed not from the king's commandments, as to any thing that he had commanded, and as to the keeping of the treasures.

8:16. Solomon had all charges prepared, from the day that he founded the house of the Lord, until the day wherein he finished it.

8:17. Then Solomon went to Asiongaber, and to Ailath, on the coast of the Red Sea, which is in the land of Edom.

8:18. And Hiram sent him ships by the hands of his servants, and skillful mariners, and they went with Solomon's servants to Ophir, and they took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought it to king Solomon.



2 Chronicles Chapter 9
'The queen of Sheba admires the wisdom of Solomon. His riches and glory. His death.' [[File:Queen of Sheba meets Solomon by Giovanni Demin.jpg
 * thumb|right|200px|Entering into Jerusalem with a great train, and riches, and camels that carried spices, and an immense quantity of gold, and precious stones, she came to King Solomon,... 2 Chronicles 9:1–12]]

'''9:1. And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to try him with hard questions at Jerusalem, with great riches, and camels, which carried spices, and abundance of gold, and precious stones. And when she was come to Solomon, she proposed to him all that was in her heart.'''

9:2. And Solomon explained to her all that she proposed: and there was not any thing that he did not make clear unto her.

9:3. And when she had seen these things, to wit, the wisdom of Solomon, and the house which he had built,

9:4. And the meats of his table, and the dwelling places of his servants, and the attendance of his officers, and their apparel, his cupbearers also, and their garments, and the victims which he offered in the house of the Lord: there was no more spirit in her, she was so astonished.

9:5. And she said to the king: The word is true which I heard in my country of your virtues and wisdom.

9:6. I did not believe them that told it, until I came, and my eyes had seen, and I had proved that scarce one half of your wisdom had been told me: you have exceeded the same with your virtues.

9:7. Happy are your men, and happy are your servants, who stand always before you, and hear your wisdom.

'''9:8. Blessed be the Lord your God, who has been pleased to set you on his throne, king of the Lord your God. Because God loves Israel, and will preserve them forever: therefore has he made you king over them, to do judgment and justice.'''

9:9. And she gave to the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and spices in great abundance, and most precious stones: there were no such spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.

9:10. And the servants also of Hiram, with the servants of Solomon, brought gold from Ophir, and thyine trees, and most precious stones:

9:11. And the king made of the thyine trees stairs in the house of the Lord, and in the king's house, and harps and psalteries for the singing men: never were there seen such trees in the land of Judah.

9:12. And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired, and that she asked, and many more things than she brought to him: so she returned, and went to her own country with her servants.

9:13. And the weight of the gold, that was brought to Solomon every year, was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold:

9:14. Beside the sum which the deputies of diverse nations, and the merchants were accustomed to bring, and all the kings of Arabia, and the lords of the lands, who brought gold and silver to Solomon.

9:15. And king Solomon made two hundred golden spears, of the sum of six hundred pieces of gold, which went to every spear:

9:16. And three hundred golden shields of three hundred pieces of gold, which went to the covering of every shield: and the king put them in the armory, which was compassed with a wood.

9:17. The king also made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.

9:18. And six steps to go up to the throne, and a footstool of gold, and two arms one on either side, and two lions standing by the arms:



9:19. Moreover twelve other little lions standing upon the steps on both sides: there was not such a throne in any kingdom.

'''9:20. And all the vessels of the king's table were of gold, and the vessels of the house of the forest of Libanus were of the purest gold. For no account was made of silver in those days.'''

9:21. For the king's ships went to Tharsis with the servants of Hiram, once in three years: and they brought thence gold and silver, and ivory, and apes, and peacocks.



9:22. And Solomon was magnified above all the kings of the earth for riches and glory.

9:23. And all the kings of the earth desired to see the face of Solomon, that they might hear the wisdom which God had given in his heart.

9:24. And every year they brought him presents, vessels of silver and of gold, and garments, and armor, and spices, and horses, and mules.

9:25. And Solomon had forty thousand horses in the stables, and twelve thousand chariots, and horsemen, and he placed them in the cities of the chariots and where the king was in Jerusalem.

9:26. And he exercised authority over all the kings from the river Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, and to the borders of Egypt.

9:27. And he made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones: and cedars as common as the sycamores, which grow in the plains.

9:28. And horses were brought to him out of Egypt, and out of all countries.

9:29. Now the rest of the acts of Solomon first and last are written in the words of Nathan the prophet, and in the books of Ahias the Silonite, and in the vision of Addo the seer, against Jeroboam the son of Nabat.

9:30. And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.

9:31. And he slept with his fathers: and they buried him in the city of David: and Roboam his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles Chapter 10
Roboam answereth the people roughly: upon which ten tribes revolt.

10:1. And Roboam went to Sichem: for thither all Israel were assembled, to make him king.

10:2. And when Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who was in Egypt, (for he was fled thither from Solomon,) heard it, forthwith he returned.

10:3. And they sent for him, and he came with all Israel, and they spoke to Roboam, saying:

10:4. Your father oppressed with a most grievous yoke, do you govern us with a lighter hand than your father, who laid upon us a heavy servitude, and ease some thing of the burden, that we may serve you.

'''10:5. And he said to them: Come to me again after three days. And when the people were gone,'''

10:6. He took counsel with the ancients, who had stood before his father Solomon, while he yet lived, saying: What counsel give you to me, that I may answer the people?

10:7. And they said to him: If you please this people, and soothe them with kind words, they will be your servants forever.

10:8. But he forsook the counsel of the ancients, and began to treat with the young men, that had been brought up with him, and were in his train.

'''10:9. And he said to them: What seems good to you? or what shall I answer this people, who have said to me: Ease the yoke which your father laid upon us?'''

10:10. But they answered as young men, and brought up with him in pleasures, and said: Thus shall you speak to the people, that said to you: Your father made our yoke heavy, do you ease it: thus shall you answer them: My little finger is thicker than the loins of my father.



10:11. My father laid upon you a heavy yoke, and I will add more weight to it: my father beat you with scourges, but I will beat you with scorpions.

10:12. So Jeroboam, and all the people came to Roboam the third day, as he commanded them.

10:13. And the king answered roughly, leaving the counsel of the ancients.

10:14. And he spoke according to the advice of the young men: My father laid upon you a heavy yoke, which I will make heavier: my father beat you with scourges, but I will beat you with scorpions.

10:15. And he condescended not to the people's requests: for it was the will of God, that his word might be fulfilled which he had spoken by the hand of Ahias the Silonite to Jeroboam the son of Nabat.

'''10:16. And all the people upon the king's speaking roughly, said thus unto him: We have no part in David, nor inheritance in the son of Isai. Return to your dwellings, O Israel, and do you, O David feed your own house. And Israel went away to their dwellings.'''

10:17. But Roboam reigned over the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah.

10:18. And king Roboam sent Aduram, who was over the tributes, and the children of Israel stoned him, and he died: and king Roboam made haste to get up into his chariot, and fled into Jerusalem.

10:19. And Israel revolted from the house of David unto this day.

2 Chronicles Chapter 11
'Roboam's reign. His kingdom is strengthened.'

11:1. And Roboam came to Jerusalem, and called together all the house of Judah and of Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men and warriors, to fight against Israel, and to bring back his kingdom to him.

11:2. And the word of the Lord came to Semeias the man of God, saying:

11:3. Speak to Roboam the son of Solomon the king of Judah, and to all Israel, in Judah and Benjamin:

'''11:4. Thus says the Lord: You shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: let every man return to his own house, for by my will this thing has been done. And when they heard the word of the Lord, they returned, and did not go against Jeroboam,'''

11:5. And Roboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built walled cities in Judah.

11:6. And he built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Thecue,

11:7. And Bethsur, and Socho, and Odollam,

11:8. And Geth, and Maresa, and Ziph,

11:9. And Aduram, and Lachis, and Azecha,

11:10. Saraa also, and Aialon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and Benjamin, well fenced cities.

11:11. And when he had enclosed them with walls, he put in them governors and storehouses of provisions, that is, of oil and of wine.

11:12. Moreover in every city he made an armory of shields and spears, and he fortified them with great diligence, and he reigned over Judah, and Benjamin,

11:13. And the priests and Levites, that were in all Israel, came to him out of all their seats,

11:14. Leaving their suburbs, and their possessions, and passing over to Judah, and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off, from executing the priestly office to the Lord.

11:15. And he made to himself priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

11:16. Moreover out of all the tribes of Israel, whoever gave their heart to seek the Lord the God of Israel, came into Jerusalem to sacrifice their victims before the Lord the God of their fathers.

11:17. And they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and established Roboam the son of Solomon for three years: for they walked in the ways of David and of Solomon, only three years.

11:18. And Roboam took to wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David: and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Isai.

11:19. And they bore him sons Jehus, and Somorias, and Zoom.

11:20. And after her he married Maacha the daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abia, and Ethai, and Ziza, and Salomith.

11:21. And Roboam loved Maacha the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and concubines: for he had married eighteen wives, and threescore concubines: and he begot eight and twenty sons, and threescore daughters.

11:22. But he put at the head of them Abia the son of Maacha to be the chief ruler over all his brethren: for he meant to make him king,

11:23. Because he was wiser and mightier than all his sons, and in all the countries of Judah, and of Benjamin, and in all the walled cities: and he gave them provisions in abundance, and he sought many wives.

2 Chronicles Chapter 12
Roboam for his sins is delivered up into the hands of the king of Egypt: who carries away all the treasures of the temple.

12:1. And when the kingdom of Roboam was strengthened and fortified, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.

12:2. And in the fifth year of the reign of Roboam, Sesac king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem (because they had sinned 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, to wit, Libyans, and Troglodites, and Ethiopians.

12:4. And he took the strongest cities in Judah, and came to Jerusalem.

12:5. And Semeias the prophet came to Roboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together in Jerusalem, fleeing from Sesac, and he said to them: Thus says the Lord: You have left me, and I have left you in the hand of Sesac.

12:6. And the princes of Israel, and the king, being in a consternation, said: The Lord is just.

12:7. And when the Lord saw that they were humbled, the word of the Lord came to Semeias, saying: Because they are humbled, I will not destroy them, and I will give them a little help, and my wrath shall not fall upon Jerusalem by the hand of Sesac.

12:8. But yet they shall serve him, that they may know the difference between my service, and the service of a kingdom of the earth.

12:9. So Sesac king of Egypt departed from Jerusalem, taking away the treasures of the king's house, and he took all with him, and the golden shields that Solomon had made,

12:10. Instead of which the king made brazen ones, and delivered them to the captains of the shieldbearers, who guarded the entrance of the palace.

12:11. And when the king entered into the house of the Lord, the shieldbearers came and took them, and brought them back again to their armory.

12:12. But yet because they were humbled, the wrath of the Lord turned away from them, and they were not utterly destroyed: for even in Judah there were found good works.

12:13. King Roboam therefore was strengthened in Jerusalem, and reigned: he was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord chose out of all the tribes of Israel, to establish his name there: and the name of his mother was Naama an Ammonitess.

12:14. But he did evil, and did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.

12:15. Now the acts of Roboam first and last are written in the books of Semeias the prophet, and of Addo the seer, and diligently recorded: and there was war between Roboam and Jeroboam all their days.

'''12:16. And Roboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. And Abia his son reigned in his stead.'''

2 Chronicles Chapter 13
Abia's reign: his victory over Jeroboam.

13:1. In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, Abia reigned over Judah.

13:2. Three years he reigned in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Michaia, the daughter of Uriel of Gabaa: and there was war between Abia and Jeroboam.

Michaia. . .Alias Maacha. Her father had also two names, viz., Absalom, or Abessalom, and Uriel.

13:3. And when Abia had begun battle, and had with him four hundred thousand most valiant and chosen men, Jeroboam put his army in array against him, eight hundred thousand men, who were also chosen and most valiant for war.

13:4. And Abia stood upon mount Semeron, which was in Ephraim, and said: Hear me, O Jeroboam, and all Israel:

13:5. Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave to David the kingdom over Israel forever, to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?

A covenant of salt. . .That is, a firm and perpetual covenant. See Num. 18.19.

13:6. And Jeroboam the son of Nabat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up: and rebelled against his lord.

13:7. And there were gathered to him vain men, and children of Belial: and they prevailed against Roboam the son of Solomon: for Roboam was unexperienced, and of a fearful heart, and could not resist them.

13:8. And now you say that you are able to withstand the kingdom of the Lord, which he possesses by the sons of David, and you have a great multitude of people, and golden calves, which Jeroboam has made you for gods.

13:9. And you have cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites: and you have made you priests, like all the nations of the earth: whoever comes and consecrates his hand with a bullock of the herd, and with seven rams, is made a priest of those who are no gods.

13:10. But the Lord is our God, whom we forsake not, and the priests who minister to the Lord are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites are in their order.



13:11. And they offer holocausts to the Lord, every day, morning and evening, and incense made according to the ordinance of the law, and the loaves are set forth on a most clean table, and there is with us the golden candlestick, and the lamps thereof, to be lighted always in the evening: for we keep the precepts of the Lord our God, whom you have forsaken.

13:12. Therefore God is the leader in our army, and his priests who sound with trumpets, and resound against you: O children of Israel, fight not against the Lord the God of your fathers, for it is not good for you.

'''13:13. While he spoke these things, Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind him. And while he stood facing the enemies, he encompassed Judah, who perceived it not, with his army.'''

13:14. And when Judah looked back, they saw the battle coming upon them both before and behind, and they cried to the Lord: and the priests began to sound with the trumpets.

13:15. And all the men of Judah shouted: and behold when they shouted, God terrified Jeroboam, and all Israel that stood against Abia and Judah.

13:16. And the children of Israel fled before Judah, and the Lord delivered them into their hand.

13:17. And Abia and his people slew them with a great slaughter, and there fell wounded of Israel five hundred thousand valiant men.

13:18. And the children of Israel were brought down, at that time, and the children of Judah were exceedingly strengthened, because they had trusted in the Lord the God of their fathers.

13:19. And Abia pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel and her daughters, and Jesana with her daughters, Ephron also and her daughters.

13:20. And Jeroboam was not able to resist any more, in the days of Abia: and the Lord struck him, and he died.

13:21. But Abia, being strengthened in his kingdom, took fourteen wives: and begot two and twenty sons, and sixteen daughters.

13:22. And the rest of the acts of Abia, and of his ways and works, are written diligently in the book of Addo the prophet.

2 Chronicles Chapter 14
The reign of Asa: his victory over the Ethiopians.

14:1. And Abia slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: an 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 pleasing in the sight of his God, and he destroyed the altars of foreign worship, and the high places.

14:3. And broke the statues, and cut down the groves.

14:4. And he commanded Judah to seek the Lord the God of their fathers, and to do the law, and all the commandments.

14:5. And he took away out of all the cities of Judah the altars, and temples, and reigned in peace.

14:6. He built also strong cities in Judah, for he was quiet, and there had no wars risen in his time, the Lord giving peace.



'''14:7. And he said to Judah: Let us build these cities, and compass them with walls, and fortify them with towers, and gates, and bars, while all is quiet from wars, because we have sought the Lord the God of our fathers, and he has given us peace round about. So they built, and there was no hinderance in building.'''

14:8. And Asa had in his army of men that bore shields and spears of Judah three hundred thousand, and of Benjamin that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred and eighty thousand, all these were most valiant men.

14:9. And Zara the Ethiopian came out against them with his army of ten hundred thousand men, and with three hundred chariots: and he came as far as Maresa.

14:10. And Asa went out to meet him, and set his army in array for battle in the vale of Sephata, which is near Maresa:

'''14:11. And he called upon the Lord God, and said: Lord, there is no difference with you, whether you help with few, or with many: help us, O Lord our God: for with confidence in you, and in your name we are come against this multitude. O Lord you are our God, let not man prevail against you.'''

14:12. And the Lord terrified the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah: and the Ethiopians fled.

'''14:13. And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them to Gerara: and the Ethiopians fell even to utter destruction, for the Lord slew them, and his army fought against them, and they were destroyed. And they took abundance of spoils,'''

14:14. And they took all the cities round about Gerara: for a great fear was come upon all men: and they pillaged the cities, and carried off much booty.

14:15. And they destroyed the sheepcotes, and took an infinite number of cattle, and of camels: and returned to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles Chapter 15
'The prophecy of Azarias. Asa's covenant with God. He deposeth his mother.'

15:1. And the spirit of God came upon Azarias the son of Oded,

'''15:2. And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Lord is with you, because you have been with him. If you seek him, you shall find: but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.'''

15:3. And many days shall pass in Israel, without the true God, and without a priest a teacher, and without the law.

15:4. And when in their distress they shall return to the Lord the God of Israel, and shall seek him, they shall find him.

15:5. At that time there shall be no peace to him that goes out and cometh in, but terrors on every side among all the inhabitants of the earth.

15:6. For nation shall fight against nation, and city against city, for the Lord will trouble them with all distress.

15:7. Do you therefore take courage, and let not your hands be weakened: for there shall be a reward for your work.

15:8. And when Asa had heard the words, and the prophecy of Azarias the son of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and took away the idols out of all the land of Judah, and out of Benjamin, and out of the cities of mount Ephraim, which he had taken, and he dedicated the altar of the Lord, which was before the porch of the Lord.

15:9. And he gathered together all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and Simeon: for many were come over to him out of Israel, seeing that the Lord his God was with him.

15:10. And when they were come to Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa,

15:11. They sacrificed to the Lord in that day of the spoils, and of the prey, that they had brought, seven hundred oxen, and seven thousand rams.

15:12. And he went in to confirm as usual the covenant, that they should seek the Lord the God of their fathers with all their heart, and with all their soul.

15:13. And if any one, said he, seek not the Lord the God of Israel, let him die, whether little or great, man or woman.

15:14. And they swore to the Lord with a loud voice with joyful shouting, and with sound of trumpet, and sound of cornets,

15:15. All that were in Judah with a curse: for with all their heart they swore, and with all their will they sought him, and they found him, and the Lord gave them rest round about.

15:16. Moreover Maacha the mother of king Asa he deposed from the royal authority, because she had made in a grove an idol of Priapus: and he entirely destroyed it, and breaking it into pieces, burnt it at the torrent Cedron.

15:17. But high places were left in Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.

15:18. And the things which his father had vowed, and he himself had vowed, he brought into the house of the Lord, gold and silver, and vessels of diverse uses.

15:19. And there was no war unto the five and thirtieth year of the kingdom of Asa.

2 Chronicles Chapter 16
Asa is reproved for seeking help from the Syrians: his last acts and death.

16:1. And in the six and thirtieth year of his kingdom, Baasa the king of Israel came up against Judah, and built a wall about Rama, that no one might safely go out or come in of the kingdom of Asa.

Six and thirtieth year of his kingdom. . .That is, of the kingdom of Judah, taking the date of it from the beginning of the reign of Reboam.

16:2. Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord, and of the king's treasures, and sent to Benadad king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying:

16:3. There is a league between me and you, as there was between my father and your father, wherefore I have sent you silver and gold, that you mayst break your league with Baasa king of Israel, and make him depart from me.

16:4. And when Benadad heard this, he sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel: and they took Ahion, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the walled cities of Nephtali.

16:5. And when Baasa heard of it, he left off the building of Rama, and interrupted his work.

16:6. Then king Asa took all Judah, and they carried away from Rama the stones, and the timber that Baasa had prepared for the building: and he built with them Gabaa, and Maspha.

16:7. At that time Hanani the prophet came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: Because you have had confidence in the king of Syria, and not in the Lord your God, therefore has the army of the king of Syria escaped out of your hand.

16:8. Were not the Ethiopians, and the Libyans much more numerous in chariots, and horsemen, and an exceeding great multitude: yet because you trusted in the Lord, he delivered them into your hand?

'''16:9. For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth, and give strength to those who with a perfect heart trust in him. Wherefore you have done foolishly, and for this cause from this time wars shall arise against you.'''

16:10. And Asa was angry with the seer, and commanded him to be put in prison: for he was greatly enraged because of this thing: and he put to death many of the people at that time.

16:11. But the works of Asa the first and last are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

16:12. And Asa fell sick in the nine and thirtieth year of his reign, of a most violent pain in his feet, and yet in his illness he did not seek the Lord, but rather trusted in the skill of physicians.

16:13. And he slept with his fathers: and he died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.

16:14. And they buried him in his own sepulchre, which he had made for himself in the city of David: and they laid him on his bed full of spices and odoriferous ointments, which were made by the art of the perfumers, and they burnt them over him with very great pomp.

2 Chronicles Chapter 17
Josaphat's reign: his care for the instruction of his people: his numerous forces.

17:1. And Josaphat his son reigned in his stead, and grew strong against Israel.

'''17:2. And he placed numbers of soldiers in all the fortified cities of Judah. And he put 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 Josaphat, because he walked in the first ways of David his father: and trusted not in Baalim,

17:4. But in the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not according to the sins of Israel.

17:5. And the Lord established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought presents to Josaphat: and he acquired immense riches, and much glory.

17:6. And when his heart had taken courage for the ways of the Lord, he took away also the high places and the groves out of Judah.

17:7. And in the third year of his reign, he sent of his princes Benhail, and Abdias, and Zacharias, and Nathanael, and Micheas, to teach in the cites of Judah:

17:8. And with them the Levites, Semeias, and Nathanias, and Zabadias, and Asael, and Semiramoth, and Jonathan, and Adonias, and Tobias, and Thobadonias Levites, and with them Elisama, and Joram priests.



17:9. And they taught the people in Judah, having with them the book of the law of the Lord: and they went about all the cities of Judah, and instructed the people.

17:10. And the fear of the Lord came upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, and they durst not make war against Josaphat.

17:11. The Philistines also brought presents to Josaphat, and tribute in silver, and the Arabians brought him cattle, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and as many he goats.

17:12. And Josaphat grew, and became exceeding great: and he built in Judah houses like towers, and walled cities.

17:13. And he prepared many works in the cities of Judah: and he had warriors, and valiant men in Jerusalem.

17:14. Of whom this is the number of the houses and families of every one: in Judah captains of the army, Ednas the chief, and with him three hundred thousand most valiant men.

17:15. After him Johanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand.

17:16. And after him was Amasias the son of Zechri, consecrated to the Lord, and with him were two hundred thousand valiant men.

17:17. After him was Eliada valiant in battle, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield.

17:18. After him also was Jozabad, and with him a hundred and eighty thousand ready for war.

17:19. All these were at the hand of the king, beside others, whom he had put in the walled cities, in all Judah.

2 Chronicles Chapter 18
Josaphat accompanies Ahab in his expedition against Ramoth; where Ahab is slain, as Micheas had foretold.

18:1. Now Josaphat was rich and very glorious, and was joined by affinity to Ahab.

18:2. And he went down to him after some years to Samaria: and Ahab at his coming killed sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people that came with him: and he persuaded him to go up to Ramoth Galaad.

'''18:3. And Ahab king of Israel said to Josaphat king of Judah: Come with me to Ramoth Galaad. And he answered him: You are as I am, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the war.'''

18:4. And Josaphat said to the king of Israel: Inquire, I beseech you, at present the word of the Lord.

'''18:5. So the king of Israel gathered together of the prophets four hundred men, and he said to them: Shall we go to Ramoth Galaad to fight, or shall we forbear? But they said: Go up, and God will deliver into the king's hand.'''

18:6. And Josaphat said: Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire also of him?

'''18:7. And the king of Israel said to Josaphat: There is one man, of whom we may ask the will of the Lord: but I hate him, for he never prophesies good to me, but always evil: and it is Micheas the son of Jemla. And Josaphat said: Do not speak thus, O king.'''

18:8. And the king of Israel called one of the eunuchs, and said to him: Call quickly Micheas the son of Jemla.

18:9. Now the king of Israel, and Josaphat king of Judah, both sat on their thrones, clothed in royal robes, and they sat in the open court by the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them.

18:10. Sedecias the son of Chanaana made him horns of iron, and said: Thus says the Lord: With these shall you push Syria, until you destroy it.

18:11. All the prophets prophesied in like manner, and said: Go up to Ramoth Galaad, and you shall prosper, and the Lord will deliver them into the king's hand.

18:12. The messenger that went to call Micheas, said to him: Behold the words of all the prophets with one mouth declare good to the king: I beseech you therefore let not your word disagree with them, and speak you also good success.

18:13. Micheas answered him: As the Lord lives, whatever my God shall say to me, that will I speak.

'''18:14. So he came to the king: and the king said to him: Micheas, shall we go to Ramoth Galaad to fight, or forbear? And he answered him: Go up, for all shall succeed prosperously, and the enemies shall be delivered into your hands.'''

18:15. The king said: I adjure you again and again to say nothing but the truth to me, in the name of the Lord.

18:16. Then he said: I saw all Israel scattered in the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd: and the Lord said: These have no masters let every man return to his own house in peace.

18:17. The king of Israel said to Josaphat: Did I not tell you that this man would not prophesy me any good, but evil?

18:18. Then he said: Hear therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing by him on the right hand and on the left,

'''18:19. and the Lord said: Who shall deceive Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall in Ramoth Galaad? And when one spoke in this manner, and another otherwise:'''

Who shall deceive, etc. . .See the annotations, 3 Kings 22.

'''18:20. There came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said: I will deceive him. And the Lord said to him: By what means will you deceive him?'''

'''18:21. He answered: I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said: You shall deceive, and shall prevail: go out, and do so.'''

18:22. Now therefore behold the Lord has put a spirit of lying in the mouth of all your prophets, and the Lord has spoken evil against you.

18:23. Sedecias the son of Chanaana came, and struck Micheas on the cheek and said: Which way went the spirit of the Lord from me, to speak to you?

18:24. Micheas said: You yourself shall see in that day, when you shall go in from chamber to chamber, to hide yourself.

18:25. The king of Israel commanded, saying: Take Micheas, and carry him to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joas the son of Amelech,

18:26. and say: Thus says the king: Put this fellow in prison, and give him bread and water in a small quantity until I return in peace.

'''18:27. Micheas said: If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me. And he said: Hear, all you people.'''

18:28. So the king of Israel and Josaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Galaad.

'''18:29. The king of Israel said to Josaphat: I will change my dress, and so I will go to the battle, but put you on your own garments. And the king of Israel having changed his dress, went to the battle.'''

18:30. Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his cavalry saying: Fight not with small, or great, but with the king of Israel only.

'''18:31. So when the captains of the cavalry saw Josaphat, they said: This is the king of Israel. And they surrounded him to attack him: but he cried to the Lord, and he helped him, and turned them away from him.'''

18:32. For when the captains of the cavalry saw, that he was not the king of Israel, they left him.

18:33. It happened that one of the people shot an arrow at a venture, and struck the king of Israel between the neck and the shoulders, and he said to his chariot man: Turn your hand, and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.

18:34. The fight was ended that day: but the king of Israel stood in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening, and died at the sunset.

2 Chronicles Chapter 19
Josaphat's charge to the judges and to the Levites.

19:1. Josaphat king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.

19:2. Jehu the son of Hanani the seer met him, and said to him: You help the ungodly, and you are joined in friendship with them that hate the Lord, and therefore you didst deserve indeed the wrath of the Lord:

19:3. But good works are found in you, because you have taken away the groves out of the land of Judah, and have prepared your heart to seek the Lord the God of your fathers.

19:4. Josaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again to the people from Bersabee to mount Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord the God of their fathers.

19:5. He set judges of the land in all the fenced cities of Judah, in every place.

19:6. Charging the judges, he said: Take heed what you do: for you exercise not the judgment of man, but of the Lord: and whatever you judge, it shall redound to you.

19:7. Let the fear of the Lord be with you, and do all things with diligence: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor desire of gifts.

19:8. In Jerusalem also Josaphat appointed Levites, and priests and chiefs of the families of Israel, to judge the judgment and the cause of the Lord for the inhabitants thereof.

19:9. He charged them, saying, Thus shall you do in the fear of the Lord faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

19:10. Every cause that shall come to you of your brethren, that dwell in their cities, between kindred and kindred, wheresoever there is question concerning the law, the commandment, the ceremonies, the justifications: show it them, that they may not sin against the Lord, and that wrath may not come upon you and your brethren: and so doing you shall not sin.

19:11. Amarias the priest your high priest shall be chief in the things which regard God: and Zabadias the son of Ismahel, who is ruler in the house of Judah, shall be over those matters which belong to the king's office: and you have before you the Levites for masters, take courage and do diligently, and the Lord will be with you in good things.

2 Chronicles Chapter 20
'The Ammonites, Moabites, and Syrians combine against Josaphat: he seeketh God's help by public prayer and fasting. A prophet foretelleth that God will fight for his people: the enemies destroy one another. Josaphat with his men gathereth the spoils. He reigneth in peace, but his navy perisheth, for his society with wicked Ochozias.'''

20:1. After this the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them of the Ammonites, were gathered together to fight against Josaphat.

20:2. There came messengers, and told Josaphat, saying: There cometh a great multitude against you from beyond the sea, and out of Syria, and behold they are in Asasonthamar, which is Engaddi.

20:3. Josaphat being seized with fear betook himself wholly to pray to the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.

20:4. Judah gathered themselves together to pray to the Lord: and all came out of their cities to make supplication to him.

20:5. Josaphat stood in the midst of the assembly of Judah, and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord before the new court,

20:6. and said: O Lord God of our fathers, you are God in heaven, and rulest over all the kingdoms and nations, in your hand is strength and power, and no one can resist you.

20:7. Did not you our God kill all the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and gave it to the seed of Abraham your friend forever?

20:8. They dwelt in it, and built in it a sanctuary to Your name, saying:



20:9. If evils fall upon us, the sword of judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand in your presence before this house, in which your name is called upon: and we will cry to you in our afflictions, and you will hear, and save us.

20:10. Now therefore behold the children of Ammon, and of Moab, and mount Seir, through whose lands you didst not allow Israel to pass when they came out of Egypt, but they turned aside from them, and slew them not,

20:11. Do the contrary, and endeavour to cast us out of the possession which you have delivered to us.

'''20:12. O our God, will you not then judge them? as for us we have not strength enough, to be able to resist this multitude, which cometh violently upon us. But as we know not what to do, we can only turn our eyes to you.'''

20:13. All Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, and their wives, and their children.

20:14. Jahaziel the son of Zacharias, the son of Banaias, the son of Jehiel, the son of Mathanias, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, was there, upon whom the spirit of the Lord came in the midst of the multitude,

20:15. He said: Attend you, all Judah, and you that dwell in Jerusalem, and you king Josaphat: Thus says the Lord to you: Do not fear, and do not be dismayed at this multitude: for the battle is not yours, but God's.

20:16. Tomorrow you shall go down against them: for they will come up by the ascent named Sis, and you shall find them at the head of the torrent, which is over against the wilderness of Jeruel.

20:17. It shall not be you that shall fight, but only stand with confidence, and you shall see the help of the Lord over you, O Judah, and Jerusalem: do not fear, nor be dismayed: tomorrow you shall go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.

20:18. Then Josaphat, and Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell flat on the ground before the Lord, and adored him.

20:19. The Levites of the sons of Caath, and of the sons of Core praised the Lord the God of Israel with a loud voice, on high.

20:20. They rose early in the morning, and went out through the desert of Thecua: and as they were marching, Josaphat standing in the midst of them, said: Hear me, men of Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be secure, believe his prophets, and all things shall succeed well.

20:21. He gave counsel to the people, and appointed the singing men of the Lord, to praise him by their companies, and to go before the army, and with one voice to say: Give glory to the Lord, for his mercy endures forever.

20:22. When they began to sing praises, the Lord turned their ambushments upon themselves, that is to say, of the children of Ammon, and of Moab, and of mount Seir, who were come out to fight against Judah, and they were slain.

20:23. For the children of Ammon, and of Moab, rose up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, to kill and destroy them: and when they had made an end of them, they turned also against one another, and destroyed one another.

20:24. When Judah came to the watch tower, that looketh toward the desert, they saw afar off all the country, for a great space, full of dead bodies, and that no one was left that could escape death.

20:25. Then Josaphat came, and all the people with him to take away the spoils of the dead, and they found among the dead bodies, stuff of various kinds, and garments, and most precious vessels: and they took them for themselves, insomuch that they could not carry all, nor in three days take away the spoils, the booty was so great.

20:26. On the fourth day they were assembled in the valley of Blessing: for there they blessed the Lord, and therefore they called that place the valley of Blessing until this day.

20:27. Every man of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem returned, and Josaphat at their head, into Jerusalem with great joy, because the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies.



20:28. They came into Jerusalem with psalteries, and harps, and trumpets into the house of the Lord.

20:29. The fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.

20:30. The kingdom of Josaphat was quiet, and God gave him peace round about.

20:31. Josaphat reigned over Judah, and he was five and thirty years old, when he began to reign: and he reigned five and twenty years in Jerusalem: and the name of his mother was Azuba the daughter of Selahi.

20:32. He walked in the way of his father Asa and departed not from it, doing the things that were pleasing before the Lord.

20:33. But yet he took not away the high places, and the people had not yet turned their heart to the Lord the God of their fathers.

20:34. But the rest of the acts of Josaphat, first and last, are written in the words of Jehu the son of Hanani, which he digested into the books of the kings of Israel.

20:35. After these things Josaphat king of Judah made friendship with Ochozias king of Israel, whose works were very wicked.

20:36. He was partner with him in making ships, to go to Tharsis: and they made the ships in Asiongaber.



20:37. Eliezer the son of Dodau of Maresa prophesied to Josaphat, saying: Because you have made a league with Ochozias, the Lord has destroyed your works, and the ships are broken, and they could not go to Tharsis.

2 Chronicles Chapter 21
Joram's wicked reign: his punishment and death.

21:1. Josaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with them in the city of David: and Joram his son reigned in his stead.



21:2. He had brethren the sons of Josaphat, Azarias, and Jahiel, and Zacharias, and Azaria, and Michael, and Saphatias, all these were the sons of Josaphat king of Judah.

21:3. Their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and pensions, with strong cities in Judah: but the kingdom he gave to Joram, because he was the eldest.

21:4. So Joram rose up over the kingdom of his father: and when he had established himself, he slew all his brethren with the sword, and some of the princes of Israel.

21:5. Joram was two and thirty years old when he began to reign: and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

21:6. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done: for his wife was a daughter of Ahab, and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.

21:7. But the Lord would not destroy the house of David: because of the covenant which he had made with him: and because he had promised to give a lamp to him, and to his sons forever.

21:8. In those days Edom revolted, from being subject to Judah, and made themselves a king.

21:9. Joram went over with his princes, and all his cavalry with him, and rose in the night, and defeated the Edomites who had surrounded him, and all the captains of his cavalry.

'''21:10. However Edom revolted, from being under the dominion of Judah unto this day: at that time Lobna also revolted, from being under his hand. For he had forsaken the Lord the God of his fathers.'''

21:11. Moreover he built also high places in the cities of Judah, and he made the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah to transgress.

21:12. There was a letter brought him from Eliseus the prophet, in which it was written: Thus says the Lord the God of David your father: Because you have not walked in the ways of Josaphat your father nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,

21:13. But have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, imitating the house of Ahab, moreover also you have killed your brethren, the house of your father, better men than yourself,

21:14. Behold the Lord will strike you with a great plague, with all your people, and your children, and your wives, and all your substance.

21:15. And you shall be sick of a very grievous disease ***, until your vital parts come out by little and little every day.

21:16. The Lord stirred up against Joram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, who border on the Ethiopians.

21:17. They came up into the land of Judah, and wasted it, and they carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, his sons also, and his wives: so that there was no son left him but Joachaz, who was the youngest.

Joachaz. . .Alias Ochozias.

21:18. Besides all this the Lord struck him with an incurable disease *** .

21:19. As day came after day, and time rolled on, two whole years passed: then after being wasted with a long consumption, ***''' his disease ended with his life. And he died of a most wretched illness, and the people did not make a funeral for him according to the manner of burning, as they had done for his ancestors.'''

'''21:20. He was two and thirty years old when he began his reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked not rightly, and they buried him in the city of David: but not in the sepulchres of the kings.'''

2 Chronicles Chapter 22
'The reign and death of Ochozias. The tyranny of Athalia.'

'''22:1. The inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ochozias his youngest son king in his place: for the rovers of the Arabians, who had broke in upon the camp, had killed all that were his elder brothers. So Ochozias the son of Joram king of Judah reigned.'''

22:2. Ochozias was forty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother was Athalia the daughter of Amri.

Forty-two, etc. . .Diverse Greek Bibles read thirty-two, agreeably to 4 Kings 8.17.

22:3. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother pushed him on to do wickedly.

22:4. So he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Ahab did: for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.

'''22:5. He walked after their counsels. And he went with Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, to fight against Hazael king of Syria, at Ramoth Galaad: and the Syrians wounded Joram.'''

'''22:6. He returned to be healed in Jezrahel: for he received many wounds in the foresaid battle. And Ochozias the son of Joram king of Judah, went down to visit Joram the son of Ahab in Jezrahel where he lay sick.'''

22:7. For it was the will of God against Ochozias that he should come to Joram: and when he was come should go out also against Jehu the son of Namsi, whom the Lord had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.

22:8. So when Jehu was rooting out the house of Ahab, he found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ochozias, who served him, and he slew them.

'''22:9. He sought for Ochozias himself, and took him lying hid in Samaria: and when he was brought to him, he killed him, and they buried him: because he was the son of Josaphat, who had sought the Lord with all his heart. And there was no more hope that any one should reign of the race of Ochozias.'''

22:10. For Athalia his mother, seeing that her son was dead, rose up, and killed all the royal family of the house of Joram.

'''22:11. But Josabeth the king's daughter took Joas the son of Ochozias, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain. And she hid him with his nurse in a bedchamber: now Josabeth that hid him, was daughter of king Joram, wife of Joiada the high priest, and sister of Ochozias, and therefore Athalia did not kill him.'''

22:12. He was with them hid in the house of God six years, during which Athalia reigned over the land.

2 Chronicles Chapter 23
Joiada the high priest causes Joas to be made king: Athalia to be slain, and idolatry to be destroyed.

23:1. In the seventh year Joiada being encouraged, took the captains of hundreds, to wit, Azarias the son of Jeroham, and Ismahel the son of Johanan, and Azarias the son of Obed, and Maasias the son of Adaias, and Elisaphat the son of Zechri: and made a covenant with them.

23:2. They went about Judah, and gathered together the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chiefs of the families of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

23:3. All the multitude made a covenant with the king in the house of God: and Joiada said to them: Behold the king's son shall reign, as the Lord has said of the sons of David.

23:4. This is the thing that you shall do:

23:5. A third part of you that come to the sabbath, of the priests, and of the Levites, and of the porters shall be at the gates: and a third part at the king's house: and a third at the gate that is called the Foundation: but let all the rest of the people be in the courts of the house of the Lord.

To the sabbath. . .That is, to perform in your weeks the functions of your office, or the weekly watches.

23:6. Let no one come into the house of the Lord, but the priests, and they that minister of the Levites: let them only come in, because they are sanctified: and let all the rest of the people keep the watches of the Lord.

23:7. Let the Levites be round about the king, every man with his arms; and if any other come into the temple, let him be slain; and let them be with the king, both coming in, and going out.

'''23:8. So the Levites, and all Judah did according to all that Joiada the high priest had commanded: and they took every one his men that were under him, and that came in by the course of the sabbath, with those who had fulfilled the sabbath, and were to go out. For Joiada the high priest permitted not the companies to depart, which were accustomed to succeed one another every week.'''

23:9. Joiada the priest gave to the captains the spears, and the shields, and targets of king David, which he had dedicated in the house of the Lord.

23:10. He set all the people with swords in their hands from the right side of the temple, to the left side of the temple, before the altar, and the temple, round about the king.

23:11. They brought out the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and the testimony, and gave him the law to hold in his hand, and they made him king: and Joiada the high priest and his sons anointed him: and they prayed for him, and said: God save the king.

23:12. Now when Athalia heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came in to the people, into the temple of the Lord.



23:13. When she saw the king standing upon the step in the entrance, and the princes, and the companies about him, and all the people of the land rejoicing, and sounding with trumpets, and playing on instruments of diverse kinds, and the voice of those that praised, she rent her garments, and said: Treason, treason.

'''23:14. Joiada the high priest going out to the captains, and the chiefs of the army, said to them: Take her forth without the precinct of the temple, and when she is without let her be killed with the sword. For the priest commanded that she should not be killed in the house of the Lord.'''

23:15. They laid hold on her by the neck: and when she was come within the horse gate of the palace, they killed her there.

23:16. Joiada made a covenant between himself and all the people, and the king, that they should be the people of the lord.

23:17. All the people went into the house of Baal, and destroyed it: and they broke down his altars and his idols: and they slew Mathan the priest of Baal before the altars.



23:18. Joiada appointed overseers in the house of the Lord, under the hands of the priests, and the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the Lord: to offer holocausts to the Lord, as it is written in the law of Moses, with joy and singing, according to the disposition of David.

23:19. He appointed also porters in the gates of the house of the Lord, that none who was unclean in any thing should enter in.

23:20. He took the captains of hundreds, and the most valiant men, and the chiefs of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought down the king from the house of the Lord, and brought him through the upper gate into the king's house, and set him on the royal throne.

23:21. All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet: but Athalia was slain with the sword.

2 Chronicles Chapter 24
'Joas reigneth well all the days of Joiada: afterwards falleth into idolatry and causeth Zacharias to be slain. He is slain himself by his servants.'

24:1. Joas was seven years old when he began to reign: and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Sebia of Bersabee.

24:2. He did that which is good before the Lord all the days of Joiada the priest.

24:3. Joiada took for him two wives, by whom he had sons and daughters.

24:4. After this Joas had a mind to repair the house of the Lord.



24:5. He assembled the priests, and the Levites, and said to them: Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the temple of your God, from year to year: and do this with speed: but the Levites were negligent.

24:6. The king called Joiada the chief, and said to him: Why have you not taken care to oblige the Levites to bring in out of Judah and Jerusalem the money that was appointed by Moses the servant of the Lord for all the multitude of Israel to bring into the tabernacle of the testimony?

24:7. For that wicked woman Athalia, and her children have destroyed the house of God, and adorned the temple of Baal with all the things that had been dedicated in the temple of the Lord.

24:8. The king commanded, and they made a chest: and set it by the gate of the house of the Lord on the outside.

24:9. They made a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem, that every man should bring to the Lord the money which Moses the servant of God appointed for all Israel, in the desert.

24:10. All the princes, and all the people rejoiced: and going in they contributed and cast so much into the chest of the Lord, that it was filled.

24:11. When it was time to bring the chest before the king by the hands of the Levites, (for they saw there was much money,) the king's scribe, and he whom the high priest had appointed went in: and they poured out the money that was in the chest: and they carried back the chest to its place: and thus they did from day to day, and there was gathered an immense sum of money.

24:12. The king and Joiada gave it to those who were over the works of the house of the Lord: but they hired with it stonecutters, and artificers of every kind of work to repair the house of the Lord: and such as wrought in iron and brass, to uphold what began to be falling.

24:13. The workmen were diligent, and the breach of the walls was closed up by their hands, and they set up the house of the Lord in its former state, and made it stand firm.



24:14. When they had finished all the works, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Joiada: and with it were made vessels for the temple for the ministry, and for holocausts and bowls, and other vessels of gold and silver: and holocausts were offered in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Joiada.

24:15. But Joiada grew old and was full of days, and died when he was a hundred and thirty years old.



24:16. They buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good to Israel, and to his house.

24:17. After the death of Joiada, the princes of Judah went in, and worshipped the king: and he was soothed by their services and hearkened to them.

24:18. They forsook the temple of the Lord the God of their fathers, and served groves and idols, and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this sin.

24:19. He sent prophets to them to bring them back to the Lord, and they would not give ear when they testified against them.

24:20. The spirit of God then came upon Zechariah, son of Jehoiada, the priest, and he stood in the sight of the people, and said to them: Thus says the Lord God: Why transgress you the commandment of the Lord which will not be for your good, and have forsaken the Lord, to make Him forsake you?

24:21. They gathered themselves together against him, and stoned him at the king's commandment in the court of the house of the Lord.

'''24:22. King Joas did not remember the kindness that Joiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. When he died, he said: The Lord see, and require it.'''

24:23. When a year was come about, the army of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and killed all the princes of the people, and they sent all the spoils to the king of Damascus.

24:24. Whereas there came a very small number of the Syrians, the Lord delivered into their hands an infinite multitude, because they had forsaken the Lord the God of their fathers: and on Joas they executed shameful judgments.

24:25. Departing they left him in great diseases: and his servants rose up against him, for revenge of the blood of the son of Joiada the priest, and they slew him in his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.

24:26. Now the men that conspired against him were Zabad the son of Semmaath an Ammonitess, and Jozabad the son of Semarith a Moabitess.

24:27. Concerning his sons, and the sum of money which was gathered under him, and the repairing the house of God, they are written more diligently in the book of kings: and Amasias his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles Chapter 25
Amasias' reign: he beginneth well, but endeth ill: he is overthrown by Joas, and slain by his people.

25:1. Amasias was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem, the name of his mother was Joadan of Jerusalem.

25:2. He did what was good in the sight of the Lord: but yet not with a perfect heart.

25:3. When he saw himself strengthened in his kingdom, he put to death the servants that had slain the king his father.

25:4. But he slew not their children, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, where the Lord commanded, saying: The fathers shall not be slain for the children, nor the children for their fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.

25:5. Amasias therefore gathered Judah together, and appointed them by families, and captains of thousands and of hundreds in all Judah, and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and upwards, and found three hundred thousand young men that could go out to battle, and could hold the spear and shield.

25:6. He hired also of Israel a hundred thousand valiant men, for a hundred talents of silver.

25:7. But a man of God came to him, and said: O king, let not the army of Israel go out with you, for the Lord is not with Israel, and all the children of Ephraim:

25:8. If you think that battles consist in the strength of the army, God will make you to be overcome by the enemies: for it belongeth to God both to help, and to put to flight.

'''25:9. Amasias said to the man of God: What will then become of the hundred talents which I have given to the soldiers of Israel? and the man of God answered him: The Lord is rich enough to be able to give you much more than this.'''

25:10. Then Amasias separated the army, that came to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: but they being much enraged against Judah returned to their own country.

25:11. Amasias taking courage led forth his people, and went to the vale of saltpits, and slew of the children of Seir ten thousand.

25:12. Other ten thousand men the sons of Judah took, and brought to the steep of a certain rock, and cast them down headlong from the top, and they all were broken to pieces.

25:13. But that army which Amasias had sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, spread themselves among the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Beth-horon, and having killed three thousand took away much spoil.

25:14. But Amasias after he had slain the Edomites, set up the gods of the children of Seir, which he had brought thence, to be his gods, and adored them, and burnt incense to them.

25:15. Wherefore the Lord being angry against Amasias, sent a prophet to him, to say to him: Why have you adored gods that have not delivered their own people out of your hand?

'''25:16. When he spoke these things, he answered him: Are you the king's counsellor? be quiet, lest I kill you. And the prophet departing, said: I know that God is minded to kill you, because you have done this evil, and moreover have not hearkened to my counsel.'''

25:17. Then Amasias king of Judah taking very bad counsel, sent to Joas the son of Joachaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying: Come, let us see one another.

25:18. But he sent back the messengers, saying: The thistle that is in Libanus, sent to the cedar in Libanus, saying: Give your daughter to my son to wife: and behold the beasts that were in the wood of Libanus passed by and trod down the thistle.

25:19. You have said: I have overthrown Edom, and therefore your heart is lifted up with pride: stay at home, why do you provoke evil against you, that both you shouldst fall and Judah with you.

25:20. Amasias would not hearken to him, because it was the Lord's will that he should be delivered into the hands of enemies, because of the gods of Edom.

25:21. So Joas king of Israel went up, and they presented themselves to be seen by one another: and Amasias king of Judah was in Bethsames of Judah:

25:22. Judah fell before Israel, and they fled to their dwellings.

25:23. Joas king of Israel took Amasias king of Judah, the son of Joas, the son of Joachaz, in Bethsames, and brought him to Jerusalem: and broke down the walls thereof from the gate of Ephraim, to the gate of the corner, four hundred cubits.

25:24. He took all the gold, and silver, and all the vessels, that he found in the house of God, and with Obededom, and in the treasures of the king's house, moreover also the sons of the hostages, he brought back to Samaria.

25:25. Amasias the son of Joas king of Judah lived, after the death of Joas the son of Joachaz king of Israel, fifteen years.

25:26. Now the rest of the acts of Amasias, the first and last, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

'''25:27. After he revolted from the Lord, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem. And he fled into Lachis, and they sent, and killed him there.'''

25:28. They brought him back upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of David.

2 Chronicles Chapter 26
Ozias reigns prosperously, until he invades the priests' office, upon which he is struck with a leprosy.

26:1. All the people of Judah took his son Ozias, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of Amasias his father.

26:2. He built Ailath, and restored it to the dominion of Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

26:3. Ozias was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Jechelia of Jerusalem.

26:4. He did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord according to all that Amasias his father had done.

26:5. He sought the Lord in the days of Zacharias that understood and saw God: and as long as he sought the Lord, he directed him in all things.

26:6. Moreover he went forth and fought against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Geth, and the wall of Jabnia, and the wall of Azotus: and he built towns in Azotus, and among the Philistines.

26:7. God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians, that dwelt in Gurbaal, and against the Ammonites.

26:8. The Ammonites gave gifts to Ozias: and his name was spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt for his frequent victories.

26:9. Ozias built towers in Jerusalem over the gate of the corner and over the gate of the valley, and the rest, in the same side of the wall, and fortified them.



26:10. He built towers in the wilderness, and dug many cisterns, for he had much cattle both in the plains, and in the waste of the desert: he had also vineyards and dressers of vines in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he was a man that loved husbandry.

26:11. The army of his fighting men, that went out to war, was under the hand of Jehiel the scribe, and Maasias the doctor, and under the hand of Henanias, who was one of the king's captains.

26:12. The whole number of the chiefs by the families of valiant men were two thousand six hundred.

26:13. The whole army under them three hundred and seven thousand five hundred: who were fit for war, and fought for the king against the enemy.

26:14. Ozias prepared for them, that is, for the whole army, shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and slings to cast stones.

26:15. He made in Jerusalem engines of diverse kinds, which he placed in the towers, and in the corners of the walls, to shoot arrows, and great stones: and his name went forth far abroad, for the Lord helped him, and had strengthened him.

26:16. But when he was made strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction, and he neglected the Lord his God: and going into the temple of the Lord, he had a mind to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

26:17. Immediately Azarias the priest going in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the Lord, most valiant men,

26:18. Withstood the king and said: It doth not belong to you, Ozias, to burn incense to the Lord, but to the priests, that is, to the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated for this ministry: go out of the sanctuary, do not despise: for this thing shall not be accounted to your glory by the Lord God.

'''26:19. Ozias was angry, and holding in his hand the censer to burn incense, threatened the priests. And presently there rose a leprosy in his forehead before the priests, in the house of the Lord at the altar of incense.'''

'''26:20. Azarias the high priest, and all the rest of the priests looked upon him, and saw the leprosy in his forehead, and they made haste to thrust him out. Yea himself also being frightened, hasted to go out, because he had quickly felt the stroke of the Lord.'''

'''26:21. Ozias the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and he dwelt in a house apart being full of the leprosy, for which he had been cast out of the house of the Lord. And Joatham his son governed the king's house, and judged the people of the land.'''

26:22. But the rest of the acts of Ozias first and last were written by Isaiah the son of Amos, the prophet.

26:23. Ozias slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the field of the royal sepulchres, because he was a leper: and Joatham his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles Chapter 27
Joatham's good reign.

27:1. Joatham was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Jerusa the daughter of Sadoc.

27:2. And he did that which was right before the Lord, according to all that Ozias his father had done, only that he entered not into the temple of the Lord, and the people still transgressed.

27:3. He built the high gate of the house of the Lord, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.

27:4. Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and castles and towers in the forests.

27:5. He fought against the king of the children of Ammon, and overcame them, and the children of Ammon gave him at that time a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and as many measures of barley: so much did the children of Ammon give him in the second and third year.

27:6. Joatham was strengthened, because he had his way directed before the Lord his God.

27:7. Now the rest of the acts of Joatham, and all his wars, and his works, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

27:8. He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.

27:9. Joatham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Achaz his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles Chapter 28
The wicked and unhappy reign of Achaz.

28:1. Achaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: he did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord as David his father had done,

28:2. But walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; moreover also he cast statues for Baalim.

28:3. It was he that burnt incense in the valley of Benennom, and consecrated his sons in the fire according to the manner of the nations, which the Lord slew at the coming of the children of Israel.



28:4. He sacrificed also, and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

28:5. The Lord his God delivered him into the hands of the king of Syria, who defeated him, and took a great booty out of his kingdom, and carried it to Damascus: he was also delivered into the hands of the king of Israel, who overthrew him with a great slaughter.

28:6. For Phacee the son of Romelia slew of Judah a hundred and twenty thousand in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the Lord the God of their fathers.

28:7. At the same time Zechri a powerful man of Ephraim, slew Maasias the king's son, and Ezricam the governor of his house, and Elcana who was next to the king.

28:8. The children of Israel carried away of their brethren two hundred thousand women, boys, and girls, and an immense booty: and they brought it to Samaria.

28:9. At that time there was a prophet of the Lord there, whose name was Oded: and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria, and said to them: Behold the Lord the God of your fathers being angry with Judah, has delivered them into your hands, and you have butchered them cruelly, so that your cruelty has reached up to heaven.

28:10. Moreover you have a mind to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for your bondmen and bondwomen, which ought not to be done for you have sinned in this against the Lord your God.

28:11. But hear my counsel, and release the captives that you have brought of your brethren, because a great indignation of the Lord hangs over you.

28:12. Then some of the chief men of the sons of Ephraim, Azarias the son of Johanan, Barachias the son of Mosollamoth, Hezekiah the son of Sellum, and Amasa the son of Adali, stood up against them that came from the war.

'''28:13. They said to them: You shall not bring in the captives hither, lest we sin against the Lord. Why will you add to our sins, and heap up upon our former offences? for the sin is great, and the fierce anger of the Lord hangs over Israel.'''

28:14. So the soldiers left the spoils, and all that they had taken, before the princes and all the multitude.



28:15. The men, whom we mentioned above, rose up and took the captives, and with the spoils clothed all them that were naked: and when they had clothed and shod them, and refreshed them with meat and drink, and anointed them because of their labor, and had taken care of them, they set such of them as could not walk, and were feeble, upon beasts, and brought them to Jericho the city of palm trees to their brethren, and they returned to Samaria.

28:16. At that time king Achaz sent to the king of the Assyrians asking help.

28:17. The Edomites came and slew many of Judah, and took a great booty.

28:18. The Philistines also spread themselves among the cities of the plains, and to the south of Judah: and they took Bethsames, and Aialon, and Gaderoth, and Socho, and Thamnan, and Gamzo, with their villages, and they dwelt in them.

28:19. For the Lord had humbled Judah because of Achaz the king of Judah, for he had stripped it of help, and had contemned the Lord.

For he had stripped it of help. . .That is, Achaz stripped the kingdom of Judah of the divine assistance by his wickedness, and by his introducing idolatry.

28:20. He brought against him Thelgathphalnasar king of the Assyrians, who also afflicted him, and plundered him without any resistance.

28:21. Achaz stripped the house of the Lord, and the house of the kings, and of the princes, and gave gifts to the king of the Assyrians, and yet it availed him nothing.

28:22. Moreover also in the time of his distress he increased contempt against the Lord: king Achaz himself by himself,

28:23. Sacrificed victims to the gods of Damascus that struck him, and he said: The gods of the kings of Syria help them, and I will appease them with victims, and they will help me; whereas on the contrary they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.

28:24. Then Achaz having taken away all the vessels of the house of God, and broken them, shut up the doors of the temple of God, and made himself altars in all the corners of Jerusalem.

28:25. In all the cities of Judah he built altars to burn frankincense, and he provoked the Lord the God of his fathers to wrath.

28:26. But the rest of his acts, and all his works first and last are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

'''28:27. Achaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of Jerusalem: for they received him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.'''

2 Chronicles Chapter 29
Hezekiah purifieth the temple, and restoreth religion.

29:1. Now Hezekiah began to reign, when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Abia, the daughter of Zacharias.

29:2. He did that which was pleasing in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.

29:3. In the first year and month of his reign he opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them.

29:4. He brought the priests and the Levites, and assembled them in the east street.

29:5. He said to them: Hear me, Levites, and be sanctified, purify the house of the Lord the God of your fathers, and take away all filth out of the sanctuary.

29:6. Our fathers have sinned and done evil in the sight of the Lord God, forsaking him: they have turned away their faces from the tabernacle of the Lord, and turned their backs.

29:7. They have shut up the doors that were in the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burnt incense, nor offered holocausts in the sanctuary of the God of Israel.

29:8. Therefore the wrath of the Lord has been stirred up against Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered them to trouble, and to destruction, and to be hissed at, as you see with your eyes.

29:9. Behold, our fathers are fallen by the sword, our sons, and our daughters, and wives are led away captives for this wickedness.

29:10. Now therefore I have a mind that we make a covenant with the Lord the God of Israel, and he will turn away the wrath of his indignation from us.

29:11. My sons, be not negligent: the Lord has chosen you to stand before him, and to minister to him, and to worship him, and to burn incense to him.

'''29:12. Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azarias, of the sons of Caath: and of the sons of Merari, Cis the son of Abdi, and Azarias the son of Jalaleel. And of the sons of Gerson, Joah the son of Zemma, and Eden the son of Joah.'''

'''29:13. Of the sons of Elisaphan, Samri, and Jahiel. Also of the sons of Asaph, Zacharias, and Mathanias.'''

29:14. Of the sons of Heman, Jahiel, and Semei: and of the sons of Idithun, Semeias, and Oziel.

29:15. They gathered together their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and went in according to the commandment of the king, and the precept of the Lord, to purify the house of God.

29:16. The priests went into the temple of the Lord to sanctify it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found within to the entrance of the house of the Lord, and the Levites took it away, and carried it out abroad to the torrent Cedron.

29:17. They began to cleanse on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the same month they came into the porch of the temple of the Lord, and they purified the temple in eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the same month they finished what they had begun.

29:18. They went in to king Hezekiah, and said to him: We have sanctified all the house of the Lord, and the altar of holocaust, and the vessels thereof, and the table of proposition with all its vessels,

29:19. All the furniture of the temple, which king Achaz in his reign had defiled, after his transgression; and behold they are all set forth before the altar of the Lord.

29:20. King Hezekiah rising early, assembled all the rulers of the city, and went up into the house of the Lord:

29:21. They offered together seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats for sin, for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, for Judah: and he spoke to the priests the sons of Aaron, to offer them upon the altar of the Lord.

29:22. Therefore they killed the bullocks, and the priests took the blood, and poured it upon the altar; they killed also the rams, and their blood they poured also upon the altar, and they killed the lambs, and poured the blood upon the altar.

29:23. They brought the he goats for sin before the king, and the whole multitude, and they laid their hand upon them:

29:24. The priests immolated them, and sprinkled their blood before the altar for an expiation of all Israel: for the king had commanded that the holocaust and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.



29:25. He set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, and psalteries, and harps according to the regulation of David the king, and of Gad the seer, and of Nathan the prophet: for it was the commandment of the Lord by the hand of his prophets.

29:26. The Levites stood, with the instruments of David, and the priests with trumpets.

29:27. Hezekiah commanded that they should offer holocausts upon the altar: and when the holocausts were offered, they began to sing praises to the Lord, and to sound with trumpets, and diverse instruments which David the king of Israel had prepared.

29:28. All the multitude adored, and the singers, and the trumpeters, were in their office until the holocaust was finished.

29:29. When the oblation was ended, the king, and all that were with him bowed down and adored.

29:30. [Hezekiah]] and the princes commanded the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David, and Asaph the seer: and they praised him with great joy, and bowing the knee adored.

'''29:31. Hezekiah added, and said: You have filled your hands to the Lord, come and offer victims, and praises in the house of the Lord. And all the multitude offered victims, and praises, and holocausts with a devout mind.'''

29:32. The number of the holocausts which the multitude offered, was seventy bullocks, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs.

29:33. They consecrated to the Lord six hundred oxen, and three thousand sheep.

29:34. But the priests were few, and were not enough to flay the holocausts: wherefore the Levites their brethren helped them, until the work was ended, and priests were sanctified, for the Levites are sanctified with an easier rite than the priests.

29:35. So there were many holocausts, and the fat of peace offerings, and the libations of holocausts: and the service of the house of the Lord was completed.

'''29:36. Hezekiah, and all the people rejoiced because the ministry of the Lord was accomplished. For the resolution of doing this thing was taken suddenly.'''

2 Chronicles Chapter 30
Hezekiah inviteth all Israel to celebrate the pasch; the solemnity is kept fourteen days.

30:1. Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah: and he wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasses, that they should come to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and keep the phase to the Lord the God of Israel,

30:2. For the king, taking counsel, and the princes, and all the assembly of Jerusalem, decreed to keep the phase the second month.

30:3. For they could not keep it in its time; because there were not priests enough sanctified, and the people was not as yet gathered together to Jerusalem.

30:4. The thing pleased the king, and all the people.

30:5. They decreed to send messengers to all Israel from Bersabee even to Dan, that they should come, and keep the phase to the Lord the God of Israel in Jerusalem: for many had not kept it as it is prescribed by the law.

30:6. The posts went with letters by commandment of the king, and his princes, to all Israel and Judah, proclaiming according to the king's orders: Ye children of Israel, turn again to the Lord the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Israel: and he will return to the remnant of you that have escaped the hand of the king of the Assyrians.

30:7. Be not like your fathers, and brethren, who departed from the Lord the God of their fathers, and he has given them up to destruction, as you see.

30:8. Harden not your necks, as your fathers did: yield yourselves to the Lord, and come to his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever: serve the Lord the God of your fathers, and the wrath of his indignation shall be turned away from you.

30:9. For if you turn again to the Lord, your brethren, and children shall find mercy before their masters, that have led them away captive and they shall return into this land: for the Lord your God is merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.

30:10. So the posts went speedily from city to city, through the land of Ephraim, and of Manasses, even to Zabulon, whilst they laughed at them and mocked them.

30:11. Nevertheless some men of Aser, and of Manasses, and of Zabulon, yielding to the counsel, came to Jerusalem.



30:12. But the hand of God was in Judah, to give them one heart to do the word of the Lord, according to the commandment of the king, and of the princes.

30:13. Many people were assembled to Jerusalem to celebrate the solemnity of the unleavened bread in the second month:

30:14. They arose and destroyed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and took away all things in which incense was burnt to idols and cast them into the torrent Cedron.

'''30:15. They immolated the phase on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites being at length sanctified offered holocausts in the house of the Lord.'''

30:16. They stood in their order according to the disposition and law of Moses the man of God: but the priests received the blood which was to be poured out, from the hands of the Levites,

30:17. Because a great number was not sanctified: and therefore the Levites immolated the phase for them that came not in time to be sanctified to the Lord.

30:18. For a great part of the people from Ephraim, and Manasses, and Issachar, and Zabulon, that had not been sanctified, ate the phase otherwise than it is written: and Hezekiah prayed for them, saying: The Lord who is good will show mercy,

30:19. To all them, who with their whole heart, seek the Lord the God of their fathers: and will not impute it to them that they are not sanctified.

30:20. The Lord heard him, and was merciful to the people.

'''30:21. And the children of Israel, that were found at Jerusalem, kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great joy, praising the Lord every day. the Levites also, and the priests, with instruments that agreed to their office.'''

30:22. Hezekiah spoke to the heart of all the Levites, that had good understanding concerning the Lord: and they ate during the seven days of the solemnity, immolating victims of peace offerings, and praising the Lord the God of their fathers.

30:23. It pleased the whole multitude to keep other seven days: which they did with great joy.

30:24. For Hezekiah the king of Judah had given to the multitude a thousand bullocks, and seven thousand sheep: and the princes had given the people a thousand bullocks, and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests was sanctified.

30:25. All the multitude of Judah with the priests and Levites, and all the assembly, that came out of Israel; and the proselytes of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah were full of joy.

30:26. There was a great solemnity in Jerusalem, such as had not been in that city since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel.

30:27. The priests and the Levites rose up and blessed the people: and their voice was heard: and their prayer came to the holy dwelling place of heaven.

2 Chronicles Chapter 31
Idolatry is abolished; and provisions made for the ministers.

31:1. When these things had been duly celebrated, all Israel that were found in the cities of Judah, went out, and they broke the idols, and cut down the groves, demolished the high places, and destroyed the altars, not only out of all Judah and Benjamin, but out of Ephraim also and Manasses, until they had utterly destroyed them: then all the children of Israel returned to their possessions and cities.



31:2. Hezekiah appointed companies of the priests, and the Levites, by their courses, every man in his own office, to wit, both of the priests, and of the Levites, for holocausts, and for peace offerings, to minister, and to praise, and to sing in the gates of the camp of the Lord.

31:3. The king's part was, that of his proper substance the holocaust should be offered always morning and evening, and on the sabbaths, and the new moons and the other solemnities, as it is written in the law of Moses.

31:4. He commanded also the people that dwelt in Jerusalem, to give to the priests, and the Levites their portion, that they might attend to the law of the Lord.

31:5. Which when it was noised abroad in the ears of the people, the children of Israel offered in abundance the first fruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey: and brought the tithe of all things which the ground bringeth forth.

31:6. Moreover the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought in the tithes of oxen, and sheep, and the tithes of holy things, which they had vowed to the Lord their God: and carrying them all, made many heaps.

31:7. In the third month they began to lay the foundations of the heaps, and in the seventh month, they finished them.

31:8. When Hezekiah and his princes came in, they saw the heaps, and they blessed the Lord and the people of Israel.

31:9. Hezekiah asked the priests and the Levites, why the heaps lay so.

31:10. Azarias the chief priest of the race of Sadoc answered him, saying: Since the first fruits began to be offered in the house of the Lord, we have eaten, and have been filled, and abundance is left, because the Lord has blessed his people: and of that which is left is this great store which you seest.

'''31:11. Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare storehouses in the house of the Lord. And when they had done so,'''

'''31:12. They brought in faithfully both the first fruits, and the tithes, and all they had vowed. And the overseer of them was Chonenias the Levite, and Semei his brother was the second,'''

31:13. After him Jehiel, and Azarias, and Nahath, and Asael, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Jesmachias, and Mahath, and Banaias, overseers under the hand of Chonenias, and Semei his brother, by the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azarias the high priest of the house of God, to whom all things appertained.

31:14. But Core the son of Jemna the Levite, the porter of the east gate, was overseer of the things which were freely offered to the Lord, and of the first fruits and the things dedicated for the holy of holies.

31:15. Under his charge were Eden, and Benjamin, Jesue, and Semeias, and Amarias, and Sechenias, in the cities of the priests, to distribute faithfully portions to their brethren, both little and great:

31:16. Besides the males from three years old and upward, to all that went into the temple of the Lord, and whatever there was need of in the ministry, and their offices according to their courses, day by day.

31:17. To the priests by their families, and to the Levites from the twentieth year and upward, by their classes and companies.

31:18. To all the multitude, both to their wives, and to their children of both genders, victuals were given faithfully out of the things that had been sanctified.

31:19. Also of the sons of Aaron who were in the fields and in the suburbs of each city, there were men appointed, to distribute portions to all the males, among the priests and the Levites.

31:20. So Hezekiah did all things which we have said in all Judah, and wrought that which was good, and right, and truth, before the Lord his God,

31:21. In all the service of the house of the Lord according to the law and the ceremonies, desiring to seek his God with all his heart, and he did it and prospered.

2 Chronicles Chapter 32
'Sennacherib invadeth Judah: his army is destroyed by an angel. Hezekiah recovers from his sickness: his other acts.'

32:1. After these things, and this truth, Sennacherib king of the Assyrians came and entered into Judah, and besieged the fenced cities, desiring to take them.

32:2. When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that the whole force of the war was turning against Jerusalem,

32:3. He took counsel with the princes, and the most valiant men, to stop up the heads of the springs, that were without the city: and as they were all of this mind,



32:4. He gathered together a very great multitude, and they stopped up all the springs, and the brook, that ran through the midst of the land, saying: Lest the kings of the Assyrians should come, and find abundance of water.

32:5. He built up also with great diligence all the wall that had been broken down, and built towers upon it, and another wall without: and he repaired Mello in the city of David, and made all sorts of arms and shields:

32:6. He appointed captains of the soldiers of the army: and he called them all together in the street of the gate of the city, and spoke to their heart, saying:

32:7. Behave like men, and take courage: be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of the Assyrians, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there are many more with us than with him.

'''32:8. For with him is an arm of flesh: with us the Lord our God, who is our helper, and fighteth for us. And the people were encouraged with these words of Hezekiah king of Judah.'''

32:9. After this, Sennacherib king of the Assyrians sent his servants to Jerusalem, (for he with all his army was besieging Lachis,) to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all the people that were in the city, saying:

32:10. Thus says Sennacherib king of the Assyrians: In whom do you trust, that you sit still besieged in Jerusalem?

32:11. Doth not Hezekiah deceive you, to give you up to die by hunger and thirst, affirming that the Lord your God shall deliver you from the hand of the king of the Assyrians?

32:12. Is it not this same Hezekiah, that has destroyed his high places, and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying: You shall worship before one altar, and upon it you shall burn incense?

'''32:13. Know you not what I and my fathers have done to all the people of the lands? have the gods of any nations and lands been able to deliver their country out of my hand?'''

32:14. Who is there among all the gods of the nations, which my fathers have destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of this hand?

'''32:15. Therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor delude you with a vain persuasion, and do not believe him. For if no god of all the nations and kingdoms, could deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers, consequently neither shall your God be able to deliver you out of my hand.'''

32:16. Many other things did his servants speak against the Lord God, and against Hezekiah his servant.

32:17. He wrote also letters full of blasphemy against the Lord the God of Israel, and he spoke against him: As the gods of other nations could not deliver their people out of my hand, so neither can the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of this hand.

32:18. Moreover he cried out with a loud voice, in the Jews' tongue, to the people that sat on the walls of Jerusalem, that he might frighten them, and take the city.

32:19. He spoke against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, the works of the hands of men.



32:20. Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amos, prayed against this blasphemy, and cried out to heaven.

'''32:21. The Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the stout men and the warriors, and the captains of the army of the king of the Assyrians: and he returned with disgrace into his own country. And when he was come into the house of his god, his sons *** slew him with the sword.'''

32:22. The Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of the hand of Sennacherib king of the Assyrians, and out of the hand of all, and gave them treasures on every side.

32:23. Many also brought victims, and sacrifices to the Lord to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: and he was magnified thenceforth in the sight of all nations.

32:24. In those days Hezekiah was sick even to death, and he prayed to the Lord: and he heard him, and gave him a sign.

32:25. But he did not render again according to the benefits which he had received, for his heart was lifted up: and wrath was enkindled against him, and against Judah and Jerusalem.

32:26. He humbled himself afterwards, because his heart had been lifted up, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and therefore the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

32:27. Hezekiah was rich, and very glorious, and he gathered himself great treasures of silver and of gold, and of precious stones, of spices, and of arms, of all kinds, and of vessels of great price.

32:28. Storehouses also of corn, of wine, and of oil, and stalls for all beasts, and folds for cattle.

32:29. He built himself cities: for he had flocks of sheep, and herds without number, for the Lord had given him very much substance.

32:30. This same Hezekiah was, he that stopped the upper source of the waters of Gihon, and turned them away underneath toward the west of the city of David: in all his works he did prosperously what he would.

32:31. But yet in the embassy of the princes of Babylon, that were sent to him, to inquire of the wonder that had happened upon the earth, God left him that he might be tempted, and all things might be made known that were in his heart.

32:32. Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and of his mercies are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.



32:33. Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him above the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem celebrated his funeral: and Manasses his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles Chapter 33
Manasseh for his manifold wickedness is led captive to Babylon: he repenteth, and is restored to his kingdom, and destroyeth idolatry: his successor Amon is slain by his servants.

33:1. Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.

33:2. He did evil before the Lord, according to all the abominations of the nations, which the Lord cast out before the children of Israel:

33:3. He turned, and built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed: and he built altars to Baalim, and made groves, and he adored all the host of heaven, and worshipped them.

The host of heaven. . .The sun, moon, and stars.

33:4. He built also altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said: In Jerusalem shall My name be forever.

33:5. He built them for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.

33:6. He made his sons to pass through the fire in the valley of Benennom: he observed dreams, followed divinations, gave himself up to magic arts, had with him magicians, and enchanters: and he wrought many evils before the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.



33:7. He set also a graven, and a molten statue in the house of God, of which God had said to David, and to Solomon his son: In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put My name forever.

33:8. I will not make the foot of Israel to be removed out of the land which I have delivered to their fathers: yet so if they will take heed to do what I have commanded them, and all the law, and the ceremonies, and judgments by the hand of Moses.

33:9. So Manasseh seduced Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to do evil beyond all the nations, which the Lord had destroyed before the face of the children of Israel.

33:10. The Lord spoke to His people, and they would not hearken.

33:11. Therefore He brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of the Assyrians: and they took Manasseh, and carried him bound with chains and fetters to Babylon.

33:12. After that he was in distress, he prayed to the Lord his God: and did penance exceedingly before the God of his fathers.

33:13. He entreated Him, and besought Him earnestly: and He heard his prayer, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom, and Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.

33:14. After this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon in the valley, from the entering in of the gate round about to Ophel, and raised it up to a great height: and he appointed captains of the army in all the fenced cities of Judah:

33:15. He took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the Lord: the altars also which he had made in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and he cast them all out of the city.

33:16. He repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed upon it victims, and peace offerings, and praise: and he commanded Judah to serve the Lord the God of Israel.

33:17. Nevertheless the people still sacrificed in the high places to the Lord their God.

33:18. But the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers that spoke to him in the name of the Lord the God of Israel, are contained in the words of the kings of Israel.

33:19. His prayer also, and his being heard and all his sins, and contempt, and places wherein he built high places, and set up groves, and statues before he did penance, are written in the words of Hozai.

33:20. Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his house: and his son Amon reigned in his stead.

33:21. Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.

33:22. He did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done: he sacrificed to all the idols which Manasseh his father had made, and served them.

33:23. He did not humble himself before the lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself, but committed far greater sin.

33:24. His servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.

33:25. But the rest of the multitude of the people slew them that had killed Amon, and made Josiah his son king in his stead.

2 Chronicles Chapter 34
Josiah destroyeth idolatry, repaireth the temple, and reneweth the covenant between God and the people.



34:1. Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one and thirty years in Jerusalem.

34:2. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father: he declined not, neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

34:3. In the eighth year of his reign, when he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of his father David: and in the twelfth year after he began to reign, he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the idols, and the graven things.

34:4. They broke down before him the altars of Baalim, and demolished the idols that had been set upon them: and he cut down the groves and the graven things, and broke them in pieces: and strewed the fragments upon the graves of them that had sacrificed to them.

34:5. He burnt the bones of the priests on the altars of the idols, and he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

34:6. In the cities of Manasses, and of Ephraim, and of Simeon, even to Nephtali he demolished all.

34:7. When he had destroyed the altars, and the groves, and had broken the idols in pieces, and had demolished all profane temples throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.

34:8. Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had cleansed the land, and the temple of the Lord, he sent Saphan the son of Elselias, and Maasias the governor of the city, Joha the son of Joachaz the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God.

Hilkiah had previously been spelled Helcias.

34:9. They came to Hilkiah the high priest: and received of him the money which had been brought into the house of the Lord, and which the Levites and porters had gathered together from Manasseh, and Ephraim, and all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah, and Benjamin, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem,

34:10. Which they delivered into the hands of them that were over the workmen in the house of the Lord, to repair the temple, and mend all that was weak.

34:11. But they gave it to the artificers, and to the masons, to buy stones out of the quarries, and timber for the couplings of the building, and to rafter the houses, which the kings of Judah had destroyed.

'''34:12. They did all faithfully. Now the overseers of the workmen were Jahath and Abdias of the sons of Merari, Zacharias and Mosollam of the sons of Caath, who hastened the work: all Levites skillful to play on instruments.'''

34:13. But over them that carried burdens for diverse uses, were scribes, and masters of the number of the Levites, and porters.



34:14. Now when they carried out the money that had been brought into the temple of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of the Lord, by the hand of Moses.

34:15. He said to Saphan the scribe: I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord: and he delivered it to him.

34:16. But he carried the book to the king, and told him, saying: Lo, all that you have committed to your servants, is accomplished.



34:17. They have gathered together the silver that was found in the house of the Lord: and it is given to the overseers of the artificers, and of the workmen, for diverse works.

'''34:18. Moreover Hilkiah the priest gave me this book. He read it before the king.'''

34:19. When he had heard the words of the law, he rent his garments:

34:20. and he commanded Hilkiah, and Ahicam the son of Saphan, and Abdon the son of Micha, and Saphan the scribe, and Asaa the king's servant, saying:

34:21. Go, and pray to the Lord for me, and for the remnant of Israel, and Judah, concerning all the words of this book, which is found: for the great wrath of the Lord has fallen upon us, because our fathers have not kept the words of the Lord, to do all things that are written in this book.

34:22. Hilkiah and they that were sent with him by the king, went to Olda the prophetess, the wife of Sellum the son of Thecuath, the son of Hasra keeper of the wardrobe: who dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second part: and they spoke to her the words above mentioned.

34:23. She answered them: Thus says the Lord the God of Israel: Tell the man that sent you to me:

34:24. Thus says the Lord: Behold I will bring evils upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, and all the curses that are written in this book which they read before the king of Judah.

34:25. Because they have forsaken me, and have sacrificed to strange gods, to provoke me to wrath with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath shall fail upon this place, and shall not be quenched.

34:26. But as to the king of Judah that sent you to beseech the Lord, thus shall you say to him: Thus says the Lord the God of Israel: Because you have heard the words of this book,

34:27. Your heart was softened, and you have humbled yourself in the sight of God for the things that are spoken against this place, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and reverencing my face, have rent your garments, and wept before me: I also have heard you, says the Lord.

'''34:28. For now I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be brought to your tomb in peace: and your eyes shall not see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and the inhabitants thereof. They therefore reported to the king all that she had said.'''

34:29. He called together all the ancients of Judah and Jerusalem,

'''34:30. and went up to the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites, and all the people from the least to the greatest. The king read in their hearing, in the house of the Lord, all the words of the book.'''

34:31. Standing up in his tribunal, he made a covenant before the Lord to walk after him, and keep his commandments, and testimonies, and justifications with all his heart, and with all his soul, and to do the things that were written in that book which he had read.

34:32. He adjured all that were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to do the same: and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of the Lord the God of their fathers.

'''34:33. Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries of the children of Israel and made all that were left in Israel, to serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived they departed not from the Lord the God of their fathers.'''

2 Chronicles Chapter 35
'Josiah celebrates a most solemn pasch. He is slain by the king of Egypt.'

35:1. Josiah kept a phase to the Lord in Jerusalem, and it was sacrificed on the fourteenth day of the first month.

35:2. He set the priests in their offices, and exhorted them to minister in the house of the Lord.

35:3. He spoke to the Levites, by whose instruction all Israel was sanctified to the Lord, saying: Put the ark in the sanctuary of the temple, which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built: for you shall carry it no more: but minister now to the Lord your God, and to his people Israel.

35:4. Prepare yourselves by your houses, and families according to your courses, as David king of Israel commanded, and Solomon his son has written.

35:5. Serve in the sanctuary by the families and companies of Levi.

35:6. Being sanctified kill the phase, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the words which the Lord spoke by the hand of Moses.

35:7. Josiah gave to all the people that were found there in the solemnity of the phase, of lambs and of kids of the flocks, and of other small cattle thirty thousand, and of oxen three thousand, all these were of the king's substance.

'''35:8. His princes willingly offered what they had vowed, both to the people and to the priests and the Levites. Moreover Helcias, and Zacharias, and Jahiel rulers of the house of the Lord, gave to the priests to keep the phase two thousand six hundred small cattle, and three hundred oxen.'''

35:9. Chonenias, and Semeias and Nathanael, his brethren, and Hasabias, and Jehiel, and Jozabad princes of the Levites, gave to the rest of the Levites to celebrate the phase five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen.

35:10. The ministry was prepared, and the priests stood in their office: the Levites also in their companies, according to the king's commandment.

35:11. The phase was immolated: and the priests sprinkled the blood with their hand, and the Levites flayed the holocausts:

35:12. They separated them, to give them by the houses and families of every one, and to be offered to the Lord, as it is written in the book of Moses, and with the oxen they did in like manner.

35:13. They roasted the phase with fire, according to that which is written in the law: but the victims of peace offerings they boiled in caldrons, and kettles, and pots, and they distributed them speedily among all the people.

35:14. Afterwards they made ready for themselves, and for the priests: for the priests were busied in offering of holocausts and the fat until night, wherefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron last.



35:15. The singers the sons of Asaph stood in their order, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Idithun, the prophets of the king: and the porters kept guard at every gate, so as not to depart one moment from their service, and therefore their brethren the Levites prepared meats for them.

35:16. So all the service of the Lord was duly accomplished that day, both in keeping the phase and offering holocausts upon the altar of the Lord, according to the commandment of king Josiah.

35:17. The children of Israel that were found there, kept the phase at that time, and the feast of unleavened seven days.

35:18. There was no phase like to this in Israel, from the days of Samuel the prophet: neither did any of all the kings of Israel keep such a phase as Josiah kept, with the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah, and Israel that were found, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

35:19. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this phase celebrated.

35:20. After that Josiah had repaired the temple, Nechao king of Egypt came up to fight in Charcamis by the Euphrates: and Josiah went out to meet him.

'''35:21. But he sent messengers to him, saying: What have I to do with you, O king of Judah? I come not against you this day, but I fight against another house, to which God has commanded me to go in haste: forbear to do against God, who is with me, lest he kill you.'''

35:22. Josiah would not return, but prepared to fight against him, and hearkened not to the words of Nechao from the mouth of God, but went to fight in the field of Mageddo.

35:23. There he was wounded by the archers, and he said to his servants: Carry me out of the battle, for I am grievously wounded.

35:24. They removed him from the chariot into another, that followed him after the manner of kings, and they carried him away to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in the monument of his fathers, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him,



35:25. Particularly Jeremiah: whose lamentations for Josiah all the singing men and singing women repeat unto this day, and it became like a law in Israel: Behold it is found written in the Lamentations.

35:26. Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and of his mercies, according to what was commanded by the law of the Lord:

35:27. His works first and last, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

2 Chronicles Chapter 36
The reigns of Joachaz, Joakim, Joachin, and Sedecias: the captivity of Babylon released at length by Cyrus.

Nebuchadnezzar had previously been spelled Nabuchodonosor. (A.D. 2011)

36:1. Then the people of the land took Joachaz the son of Josiah, and made him king instead of his father in Jerusalem.

36:2. Joachaz was three and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.

36:3. The king of Egypt came to Jerusalem, and deposed him, and condemned the land in a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.

36:4. He made Eliakim his brother king in his stead, over Judah and Jerusalem: and he turned his name to Joakim: but he took Joachaz with him and carried him away into Egypt.

36:5. Joakim was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did evil before the Lord his God.

36:6. Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of the Chaldeans, and led him bound in chains into Babylon.

36:7. He carried also thither the vessels of the Lord, and put them in his temple.

'''36:8. But the rest of the acts of Joakim, and his abominations, which he wrought, and the things that were found in him, are contained in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. Joachin his son reigned in his stead.'''

36:9. Joachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem, and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.

''Eight years old. . .He was associated by his father to the kingdom, when he was but eight years old; but after his father's death, when he reigned alone, he was eighteen years old. 4 Kings 24.8.''

36:10. At the return of the year, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, carrying away at the same time the most precious vessels of the house of the Lord: and he made Sedecias his uncle king over Judah and Jerusalem.

36:11. Sedecias was one and twenty years old when he began to reign: and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.



36:12. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God, and did not reverence the face of Jeremiah the prophet speaking to him from the mouth of the Lord.

36:13. He also revolted from king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: and he hardened his neck and his heart, from returning to the Lord the God of Israel.

36:14. Moreover all the chief priests, and the people wickedly transgressed according to all the abominations of the Gentiles: and they defiled the house of the Lord, which he had sanctified to himself in Jerusalem.

36:15. The Lord the God of their fathers sent to them, by the hand of his messengers, rising early, and daily admonishing them: because he spared his people and his dwelling place.

36:16. But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused the prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, and there was no remedy.

36:17. For he brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans, and he slew their young men with the sword in the house of his sanctuary, he had no compassion on young man, or maiden, old man or even him that stooped for age, but he delivered them all into his hands.

36:18. All the vessels of the house of Lord, great and small, and the treasures of the temple and of the king, and of the princes he carried away to Babylon.

36:19. The enemies set fire to the house of God, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burnt all the towers, and whatsoever was precious they destroyed.

36:20. Whoever escaped the sword, was led into Babylon, and there served the king and his sons, until the reign of the king of Persia,

36:21. That the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, and the land might keep her sabbaths: for all the days of the desolation she kept a sabbath, until the seventy years were expired.

36:22. But in the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, to fulfil the word of the Lord, which he had spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the heart of Cyrus, king of the Persians: who commanded it to be proclaimed through all his kingdom, and by writing also, saying:

'''36:23. Thus says Cyrus king of the Persians: All the kingdoms of the earth has the Lord the God of heaven given to me, and he has charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judea: who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.'''