The Second Book of Chronicles, starting at chapter 31
{31:1} Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present
went out to the cities of Judah, and broke in pieces the pillars, and
cut down the Asherim, and broke down the high places and the altars
out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until
they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned,
every man to his possession, into their own cities. {31:2} Hezekiah
appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites after their
divisions, every man according to his service, both the priests and
the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister,
and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of the
LORD. {31:3} He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for
the burnt offerings, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and
the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for
the set feasts, as it is written in the Torah of the LORD. {31:4}
Moreover he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the
portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might give
themselves to the law of the LORD. {31:5} As soon as the commandment
came abroad, the children of Israel gave in abundance the first fruits
of grain, new wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the
field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. {31:6}
The children of Israel and Judah, who lived in the cities of Judah,
they also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of
dedicated things which were consecrated to the LORD their God, and
laid them by heaps. {31:7} In the third month they began to lay the
foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.
{31:8} When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they
blessed the LORD, and his people Israel. {31:9} Then Hezekiah
questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. {31:10}
Azariah the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and
said, "Since people began to bring the offerings into the house of the
LORD, we have eaten and had enough, and have left plenty: for the LORD
has blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store."
{31:11} Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in the house of
the LORD; and they prepared them. {31:12} They brought in the
offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: and over
them Conaniah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was second.
{31:13} Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and
Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were
overseers under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the
appointment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house
of God. {31:14} Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter at the
east gate, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the
offerings of the LORD, and the most holy things. {31:15} Under him
were Eden, and Miniamin, and Yeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and
Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their office of trust, to
give to their brothers by divisions, as well to the great as to the
small: {31:16} besides those who were reckoned by genealogy of males,
from three years old and upward, even everyone who entered into the
house of the LORD, as the duty of every day required, for their
service in their offices according to their divisions; {31:17} and
those who were reckoned by genealogy of the priests by their fathers'
houses, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their
offices by their divisions; {31:18} and those who were reckoned by
genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and
their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their office of
trust they sanctified themselves in holiness. {31:19} Also for the
sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the suburbs of
their cities, in every city, there were men who were mentioned by
name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all
who were reckoned by genealogy among the Levites. {31:20} Hezekiah did
so throughout all Judah; and he worked that which was good and right
and faithful before the LORD his God. {31:21} In every work that he
began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the
commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and
prospered.
{32:1} After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king
of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the
fortified cities, and thought to win them for himself. {32:2} When
Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that he was purposed to
fight against Jerusalem, {32:3} he took counsel with his princes and
his mighty men to stop the waters of the springs which were outside of
the city; and they helped him. {32:4} So many people gathered
together, and they stopped all the springs, and the brook that flowed
through the midst of the land, saying, "Why should the kings of
Assyria come, and find much water?"
{32:5} He took courage, and built up all the wall that was broken
down, and raised it up to the towers, and the other wall outside, and
strengthened Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields
in abundance. {32:6} He set captains of war over the people, and
gathered them together to him in the broad place at the gate of the
city, and spoke comfortably to them, saying, {32:7} "Be strong and
courageous, don't be afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor
for all the multitude who is with him; for there is a greater with us
than with him. {32:8} With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the
LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles." The people rested
themselves on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. {32:9} After this,
Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem, (now he
was before Lachish, and all his power with him), to Hezekiah king of
Judah, and to all Judah who were at Jerusalem, saying, {32:10} Thus
says Sennacherib king of Assyria, "In whom do you trust, that you
remain under siege in Jerusalem? {32:11} Doesn't Hezekiah persuade
you, to give you over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, 'The
LORD our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?'
{32:12} Hasn't the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his
altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, 'You shall worship
before one altar, and on it you shall burn incense?' {32:13} Don't
you know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the
lands? Were the gods of the nations of the lands in any way able to
deliver their land out of my hand? {32:14} Who was there among all the
gods of those nations which my fathers utterly destroyed, that could
deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to
deliver you out of my hand? {32:15} Now therefore don't let Hezekiah
deceive you, nor persuade you in this way, neither believe him; for no
god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my
hand, and out of the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God
deliver you out of my hand?"
{32:16} His servants spoke yet more against the LORD God, and
against his servant Hezekiah. {32:17} He also wrote letters insulting
the LORD, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, "As the
gods of the nations of the lands, which have not delivered their
people out of my hand, so shall the God of Hezekiah not deliver his
people out of my hand." {32:18} They cried with a loud voice in the
Jews' language to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to
frighten them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
{32:19} They spoke of the God of Jerusalem, as of the gods of the
peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands. {32:20}
Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, prayed
because of this, and cried to heaven. {32:21} The LORD sent an angel,
who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains,
in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face
to his own land. When he had come into the house of his god, those who
came forth from his own bowels killed him there with the sword.
{32:22} Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem
from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of
all others, and guided them on every side. {32:23} Many brought gifts
to the LORD to Jerusalem, and precious things to Hezekiah king of
Judah; so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from
thenceforth. {32:24} In those days Hezekiah was sick even to death:
and he prayed to the LORD; and he spoke to him, and gave him a sign.
{32:25} But Hezekiah didn't render again according to the benefit done
to him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath on him,
and on Judah and Jerusalem. {32:26} Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled
himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD didn't come on them in the
days of Hezekiah. {32:27} Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and
honor: and he provided him treasuries for silver, and for gold, and
for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all
kinds of goodly vessels; {32:28} storehouses also for the increase of
grain and new wine and oil; and stalls for all kinds of animals, and
flocks in folds. {32:29} Moreover he provided him cities, and
possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him
very much substance. {32:30} This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper
spring of the waters of Gihon, and brought them straight down on the
west side of the city of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
{32:31} However concerning the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon,
who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land,
God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his
heart. {32:32} Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his good
deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet
the son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. {32:33}
Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent of
the tombs of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem did him honor at his death. Manasseh his son reigned in his
place.
{33:1} Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he
reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. {33:2} He did that which was
evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the nations
whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. {33:3} For he
built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down;
and he reared up altars for the Baals, and made Asheroth, and
worshiped all the army of the sky, and served them. {33:4} He built
altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, "My name
shall be in Jerusalem forever." {33:5} He built altars for all the
army of the sky in the two courts of the house of the LORD. {33:6} He
also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the
son of Hinnom; and he practiced sorcery, and used enchantments, and
practiced sorcery, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and
with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke
him to anger. {33:7} He set the engraved image of the idol, which he
had made, in the house of God, of which God 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}
neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from off the land
which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to
do all that I have commanded them, even all the law and the statutes
and the ordinances given by Moses." {33:9} Manasseh seduced Judah and
the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they did more evil than the
nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel did.
{33:10} The LORD spoke to Manasseh, and to his people; but they gave
no heed. {33:11} Therefore the LORD brought on them the captains of
the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, and
bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. {33:12} When he
was in distress, he begged the LORD his God, and humbled himself
greatly before the God of his fathers. {33:13} He prayed to him; and
he was entreated by him, and heard his supplication, and brought him
again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD
was God. {33:14} Now after this he built an outer wall to the city of
David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance
at the fish gate; and he encircled Ophel with it, and raised it up to
a very great height: and he put valiant captains in all the fortified
cities of Judah. {33:15} He took away the foreign gods, and the idol
out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in
the mountain of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them
out of the city. {33:16} He built up the altar of the LORD, and
offered thereon sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving, and
commanded Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel. {33:17}
Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places, but only
to the LORD their God. {33:18} Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh,
and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him
in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, behold, they are written
among the acts of the kings of Israel. {33:19} His prayer also, and
how God was entreated of him, and all his sin and his trespass, and
the places in which he built high places, and set up the Asherim and
the engraved images, before he humbled himself: behold, they are
written in the history of Hozai. {33:20} So Manasseh slept with his
fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son
reigned in his place. {33:21} Amon was twenty-two years old when he
began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. {33:22} He did
that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his
father; and Amon sacrificed to all the engraved images which Manasseh
his father had made, and served them. {33:23} He didn't humble himself
before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but this
same Amon trespassed more and more. {33:24} His servants conspired
against him, and put him to death in his own house. {33:25} But the
people of the land killed all those who had conspired against king
Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.
________________________________________________________________________
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