Ahaziah's wicked reign. 2 CHRONICLES, XXII, XXIII. diseases. And his people made no B. C. 885. burning for him, like the burning m of his fathers. 20 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without 6 being n desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings. CHAPTER XXII. 1 Ahaziah reigneth wickedly: 5 He is slain by Jehu. Joash made king. all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom. 10 T But o when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah. 11 But Jehoshabeath, p the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in AND the inhabitants of Jerusa-Ge.27.12,13. a bed-chamber. So Jehoshabeat, De.7.3,4. lem made Ahaziah a his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son ofd Pr. 12.5. Jehoram king of Judah reigned. e Mi.6.16. 2 Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign;| f2Ki.9.15. and he reigned one year in Jerusa-1 wherewith lem. His mother's name also was they Athaliah b the daughter of Omri. wounded him. 3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother c was his counsellor to do wickedly. 2 called 4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab for they were his counsellors d after the death of his father 3 treading to his destruction. 5 He walked e also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians smote Joram. down. g ch.10.15. 1Ki. 12.15. h 2Ki.9.21. i 2Ki.9.6,7. 14. 6 And ƒ he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds 1 which were given him at Ramah, k 2Ki. 10.12when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And 2 Azariah the son 12Ki.9.27. of Jehoram king of Judah went m 1Ki. 14,13. down to see Jehoram the son of n ch.17.4. Ahah at Jezreel, because he was sick. &c. 7 And the 3 destruction of Ahaziah wasg of God by coming to Joram; o 2Ki. 11.1, for when he was come, he h went out with Jehoram against Jehu the Р 2Ki.11.2, son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had Jehosheba. anointed to cut off the house of (CHAP. 23.) Ahab. &c. 8 And it came to pass, that, when a 2Ki. 11.4, Jehu was i executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found kb 2Sa.5.3. the princes of Judah, and the sons c ch.21.7. of the brethren of Ahaziah, that 2Sa.7.12,16. ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them. IKI.9.5. the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not. 12 And he was with them hid in the house of God six years and Athaliah reigned over the land. CHAPTER XXIII. Jehoiada restoreth the worship of AND a in the seventh year t hoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him. 2 And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. 3 And all the congregation made a covenant b with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath said c of the sons of David. 4 This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you d entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the 1 doors; 5 And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation : "and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD. 6 But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they e that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD. Ps.89.29. 7 And the Levites shall compass 9 And he sought Ahaziah: and diCh.9.19-27. the king round about, every man they caught him, (for he was hid 1 thresholds. with his weapons in his hand; and in Samaria,) and brought him to whosoever else cometh intof the e 1Ch.23.28, Jehu: and when they had slain house, he shall be put to death: him, they buried him: Because, m but be you with the king when he said they, he is the son of Jehosha- f Nu.3.10,38. cometh in, and when he goeth out. 8 So the Levites and all Judah did phat, whon sought the LORD with 29. Athaliah slain. Joash's good reign. it is written v in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained 6 by David. 2 CHRONICLES, XXIV. according to all things that Jehoia-] B. C. 878. da the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.g g 1Ch. XXIV. XXV. h 251.8.7. 2 shoulder. De. 17. 18-20, Let the king live. Ps. 14.5. Pr.11.10. 9 Moreover Jehoiada the priest. delivered to the captains of hun-3 house. dreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which h were in the house of God. 10 And he set all the people,] (every man having his weapon in his hand,) from the right 2 side of the 3 temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about. 11 Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony,i and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, 4 God save the king. m 1Ch.25.6-8. n Ec.9.12. & conspiracy. o Ex.21.14. p Ne.3.28. q Ps.5.6. 55.23. Ja.2.13. r De.29.1-15. 12 T Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD: 13 And k she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the s De.26. 17-19. entering in, and the princes, and t De. 13.9. the trumpets by the king: and all 19 And he set the porters w at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in. 20 And he took the captains x of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom. 21 And all the people of the land y rejoiced and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword. CHAPTER XXIV. Joash reigns well all the days of Jehoiada. the people of the land rejoiced, u 1Ch.XXIII wives, and he begat sons and and sounded with trumpets, also the m singers with instruments of music, and such as taught to sing praise. Then n Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, 5 Treason, Treason! XXIV. daughters. 4 And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to 1 repair NuXXVIII. the house of the LORD. 14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth o of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with y Ps.58.10,11. the sword. For the priest said, Re. 18.20. Slay her not in the house of the 19.1,2. LORD. (CHAP. 24.) 15 So they laid hands on her; and and when she was come to the en- a 2Ki.11.21. tering of the horse-gate p by the 12.1,&c. king's house, they slew q her there. b ch.26.5. 16 And Jehoiada made a cove- Is.29.13. nant r between him, and between 1 renew. all the people, and between the king, that s they should be the LORD'S people. 17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and t slew Mat-e tan the priest of Baal before the altars. c Ex.30.12 16. d Nu. 1.50. Ac.7.44. ch.21.17. f Eze. 16. 17 19. Ho.2.8, 13. 18 Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD, by the hand of the priests the Le-2 voice. vites whom David had distributed u in the house of the LORD, to offer g ver.6. the burnt-offerings of the LORD, as 5 And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not." 6 And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in, out of Judah and out of Jerusalem, the collection, according to the commandment c of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the d tabernacle of witness? 7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken upe the house of God; and also all the dedicated things f of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim. 8 And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD. 9 And they made a 2 proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection g that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness. B. C. 840. 10 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced,h and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they h 2Co.9.7. had made an end. i1Co.16.2. 3 the healing 11 Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw 4 or, pestils. that there was much money, the k ver.2, 12,14. king's scribe and the high priest's ch.XXIII. officer came and emptied the 1 Pr.26.8. chest, and took it, and carried m Pr.29. 12. it to his place again. Thus they n IKI.14.23. did day by day, i and gathered o ch.28. 13. money in abundance. 12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD. 13 So the workmen wrought, and 3 the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it. 29.8. Ho.5.10, 14. p Je.7.25,26. 26.5. Ju.6.34. " Nu. 14.41. 14 And when they had finished it, s ch. 15.2. they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the t Je. 18. 18. house of the LORD, even vessels to u Mat.21.35. minister, and 4 to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt-offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada. 15 But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died. 16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good k in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house. 17 Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened m unto them. 23.35. 6 in the revo- y De.32.30. z Le.26.25. a ch.22.8. Is. 10.5. char, 2Ki, 12.21. 9 or, Shomer. 18 And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served n groves and idols and wrath came o upon Judah and Je-10 rusalem for this their trespass. 19 Yet p he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but q they would not give ear. Joash slain. 21 And they conspired t against him, and stoned u him with Stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD. 22 Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but v slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require wit. 23 And it came to pass 6 at the end of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of 7 Damascus. 24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small y company of men, and the LORD delivered z a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment a against Joash. 25 And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiadab the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings. 26 And these are they that conspired against him; 8 Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of 9 Shimrith a Moabitess. 27 Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the 10 repairing of the house of God, behold, they are written in the 11 story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead. CHAPTER XXV. 1 Amaziah's reign: 17 He provoketh Joash to his overthrow. AMAZIAH was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his foundling. mother's name was Jehoaddan of 11 or, corn- (CHAP. 25.) 1 confirmed 20 And the spirit of God 5 came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why r transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, c De.24. 16. that ye cannot prosper? because sd Je.31.30. ye have forsaken the LORD, he Eze. 18.20. hath also forsaken you. Jerusalem. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not b with a perfect heart. 3 Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was 1 established to him, that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father. 4 But he slew not their children, but did as it is written c in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, The d fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die Amaziah's reign. 2 CHRONICLES, XXV. Amaziah is overthrown. for the fathers, but every man shall B. C. 810. die for his own sin. 5 e Nu. 1.3. ch.20.6. Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty e years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield. g Ps.24.1. 6 He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver. 7 But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim. 2 band. Pr. 10.22. 3 to their 4 heat of LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, whichk could not deliver their own people out of thine hand? 16 And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear, why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath 6 determined to destroy thee, because I thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel. 17 Then m Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face. 18 And Joash king of Israel sent 8 But if thou wilt go, do it, bes sons of the to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God f hath power to help, and to cast down. band. h ch.28.23. Is.44.19. 9 And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for i Ex.20.3,5. the hundred talents which I have given to the 2 army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able g to give thee much more than this. Ps.96.5. 10 Then Amaziah separated them, & ver. 11,12. to wit, the army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go 3 home again wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in 4 great 1 1Sa.2.25. counselled. m 2Ki.14.8, &c. Tor, furze bush, or, thorn. The 7 thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a 8 wild beast that was in Lebanon and trode down the thistle. 19 Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee? 20 But Amaziah would not hear; for it n came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom. 21 So Joash the king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Beth-shemesh, which belongeth to Judah 22 And Judah was 9 put to the worse before Israel, and they fled beast of the every man to his tent. field. n ver. 16. ch.22,7. 13 But the 5 soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Ju-9 smitten. dah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote three thousand o ch.21.17. of them, and took much spoil. that look- p ch.26.9. 14 Now it came to pass, after 10 gate of it that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought h the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed i down himself before them, and burned incense unto them. 15 Wherefore the anger of the q 2Ki, 14. 17, &c. 23 And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, o at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the 10 corner-gate, p four hundred cubits. 24 And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria. 25 And g Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash, son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. 26 Now the rest of the acts of 2 CHRONICLES, XXVI. Uzziah reigneth well. Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? 27 Now r after the time that Amaziah did turn away from 11 following the LORD they 12 made a conspiracy against him in Jerusa-: lem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there. 28 And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in 13 the city of Judah. CHAPTER XXVI. Uzziah invadeth the priest's office, and is smitten. B. C. 810. r ch.15.2. 11 after. 12 conspired He waxeth proud. Hananiah, one of the king's cap tains. 12 The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two thousand and a conspira-six hundred. THEN a all the people of Judah b took 1 Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah. 2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers. 3 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. 5 And he sought God in the days b of Zechariah, who had understanding in the 2 visions of God: and as long c as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper. And he went forth, and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities 3 about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. 7 And God helped him against d the Philistines, e and against the Arabis that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Mehunims. 8 And the Ammonites gave gifts f to Utah and his name 4 spread: abrol even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly. 9 Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner-gate, 9 and at the valley-gate, and at the turning of the wall, and 5 fortified them. (CHAP. 26.) a 2Ki.14.21, 22. 15.1,&c. 1 or, Azariah. ch.24.2. Ge.41.15, 2 seeing. 3 c 1Ch.22.13. or, in the country of Ashdod. d 1Ch.5.20. Is. 14.29. e ch.21.16. f ch.17.11. 4 went. g ch.25.23. Ne.3. 13,32. Zec. 14.10. or,repaired. 6 or, cut out 8 9 many cisterns. or, fruitful fields. ground. the power of an army. 10 stones of slings. 11 went forth. h ch.25.19. De.8.14. i Pr. 16. 18. Z 1Ch.6.10. m Nu. 16.40. 10 Also he built towers in the de-o 1Co.5.5. sert, and digged many wells: for p 1Sa.2.30. he had much cattle, both in the 7 ch.25. 16. low country and in the plains; husbandmen also, and vine-dressers in the mountams, and in 7 Carmel: for he loved husbandry. 2Ki.5.27. & Es.6.12. t 2Ki, 15.5. 12 free. u Le. 13.46. Nu.5.2. 12.15. 2Ki.7.3. 11 Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the. hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maa-v Is.1.1. seiah the ruler, under the hand of 13 And under their hand was 9 an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host, shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and 10 slings to cast stones. 15 And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal: and his name 11 spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped till he was strong. 16 T Buth when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: i for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went k into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. 17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men: 18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him. It appertaineth not m unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated n to burn incense go out o of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour p from the LORD God. 19 Then Uzziah was wroth, q and had a censer in his hand to burn mcense; and while r he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense-altar. 20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself s hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him. 21 And t Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a 12 several house, u being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land. 22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah v the prophet, the son of Amoz, write. |