13 All the people from Judah, their infants, wives, and children were standing in front of Yahweh. 14 Then the Ruach Yahweh came to Jahaziel. (He was the son of Zechariah, grandson of Benaiah, greatgrandson of Jeiel, whose father was Mattaniah, a Levite descended from Asaph.) 15 Jahaziel said, "Pay attention to me, everyone from Judah, everyone living in Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what Yahweh says to you: Don't be frightened or terrified by this large crowd. The battle isn't yours. It's Elohim's. 16 Tomorrow go into battle against them. They will be coming up the Ziz Pass. You will find them at the end of the valley in front of the Jeruel Desert. 17 You won't fight this battle. Instead, take your position, stand still, and see the victory of Yahweh for you, Judah and Jerusalem. Don't be frightened or terrified. Tomorrow go out to face them. Yahweh is with you."

18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face touching the ground. Everyone from Judah and the people who lived in Jerusalem immediately bowed down in front of Yahweh. 19 The Levites, descendants of Kohath and Korah, stood up to praise Yahweh Elohim of Israel with very loud songs.

20 They got up early in the morning and went to the desert of Tekoa. As they were leaving, Jehoshaphat stopped and said, "Listen to me, people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem. Trust Yahweh your Elohim, and believe. Believe his prophets, and you will succeed."

21 After he had advised the people, he appointed people to sing to Yahweh and praise him for the beauty of his holiness. As they went in front of the troops, they sang, "Thank Yahweh because his mercy endures forever!" 22 As they started to sing praises, Yahweh set ambushes against the Ammonites, Moabites, and the people of Mount Seir who had come into Judah. They were defeated. 23 Then the Ammonites and Moabites attacked the people from Mount Seir and annihilated them. After they had finished off the people of Seir, they helped destroy one another.

24 The people of Judah went to the watchtower in the desert and looked for the crowd. Corpses were lying on the ground. No one had escaped. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his troops came to take the loot, they found among them a lot of goods, clothes,b and valuables. They found more than they could carry. They spent three days collecting the loot. 26 0n the fourth day they gathered in the valley of Beracah. Because they thanked Yahweh there, that place is still called the valley of Beracah [Thanks] today.

27 All the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned to Jerusalem. They rejoiced while Jehoshaphat led them. Yahweh gave them a reason to rejoice about what had happened to their enemies. 28 So they brought harps, lyres, and trumpets to Yahweh's temple in Jerusalem.

29 The fear of Elohim came over the kingdoms in that area when they heard how Yahweh waged war against Israel's enemies. 30 Jehoshaphat's kingdom was peaceful, since his Elohim surrounded him with peace.

Summary of Jehoshaphat's Reign-1 Kings 22:41-50 31 Jehoshaphat ruled as king of Judah. He was 35 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi. 32 Jehoshaphat carefully followed the example his father Asa had set and did what Yahweh considered right. 33 But the illegal worship sites on the hills were not torn down. The people still didn't have their hearts set on the Elohim of their ancestors.

34 Everything else about Jehoshaphat from first to last is written in the records of Jehu, son of Hanani, which is included in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

35 After this, King Jehoshaphat of Judah allied himself with King Ahaziah of Israel, who led him to do evil. 36 Jehoshaphat joined him in making ships to go to Tarshish. They made the ships in Ezion Geber. 37 Then Eliezer, son of Dodavahu from Mareshah, prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, "Yahweh will destroy your work because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah." So the ships were wrecked and couldn't go to Tarshish.

King Jehoram of Judah-1 Kings 22:51; 2 Kings 8:17-19 21 1 Jehoshaphat lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. His son Jehoram succeeded him as king. 2 He had the following brothers, sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. All were the sons of King Jehoshaphat of Israel. 3 Their father gave them many gifts: silver, gold, and other expensive things, along with fortified cities in Judah. But Jehoshaphat gave the kingdom to Jehoram, who was the firstborn.

4 After Jehoram had taken over his father's kingdom, he strengthened his position and then executed all his brothers and some of the officials of Israel. 5 Jehoram was 32 years old when he became king, and he ruled for 8 years in Jerusalem. 6 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as Ahab's family had done, because his wife was Ahab's daughter. So he did what Yahweh considered evil. 7 But Yahweh, recalling the promisea he had made to David, didn't want to destroy David's family. Yahweh had told David that he would always give him and his descendants a shining lamp.

Edom Wins Independence from Judah-2 Kings 8:20-24a 8 During Jehoram's time Edom rebelled against Judah and chose its own king. 9 Jehoram took all his chariot commanders to attack. The Edomites and their chariot commanders surrounded him, but he got up at night and broke through their lines. 10 So Edom rebelled against Judah's rule and is still independent today. At the same time Edom rebelled, Libnah rebelled because Jehoram had abandoned Yahweh Elohim of his ancestors. 11 Jehoram made illegal places of worship in the hills of Judah. This caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to chase after foreign gods as if they were prostitutes. So he led Judah astray.

12 Then a letter came to him from the prophet Elijah. It read, "This is what Yahweh Elohim of your ancestor David says: You haven't followed the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or the ways of King Asa of Judah. 13 Instead, you have followed the ways of the kings of Israel. You, like Ahab's family, have caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to chase after foreign gods as if they were prostitutes. You have killed your brothers, your father's family. Your brothers were better than you. 14 Yahweh will strike a great blow to your people, your sons, your wives, and all your property because you did this. 15 You will suffer from a chronic intestinal disease until your intestines come out."

16 Yahweh prompted the Philistines and the Arabs who lived near the people of Sudan to attack Jehoram. 17 They fought against Judah, broke into the country, and took away everything that could be found in the royal palace. They even took Jehoram's sons and wives. The only son left was Ahaziah,a Jehoram's youngest son. 18 After this, Yahweh struck Jehoram with an incurable intestinal disease. 19 Two years later, as his life was coming to an end, his intestines fell out because of his sickness. He died a painful death.

His people did not make a bonfire in his honor as they had done for his ancestors. 20 He was 32 years old when he became king, and he ruled for 8 years in Jerusalem. No one was sorry to see him die. He was buried in the City of David but not in the tombs of the kings.

King Ahaziah of Judah-2 Kings 8:24b-29; 9:14-29 22 1 The people of Jerusalem made Jehoram's youngest son Ahaziah king in his place, because the raiders who came to the camp with the Arabs had killed all the older sons. So Jehoram's son Ahaziah became king of Judah. 2 Ahaziahb was 42 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for one year in Jerusalem. His mother was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri. 3 Ahaziah also followed the ways of Ahab's family, because his mother gave him advice that led him to sin. 4 He did what Yahweh considered evil, as Ahab's family had done. After his father died, they advised him to do what Ahab's family had done. They did this to destroy him.

5 Ahaziah followed their advice and went with Ahab's son King Joramc of Israel to fight against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth Gilead. There the Arameans wounded Joram. 6 Joram returned to Jezreel to let his wounds heal. (He had been wounded by the Arameans at Ramah when he fought against King Hazael of Aram.) Then Jehoram's son Ahaziahd went to Jezreel to see Ahab's son Joram, who was sick.

7 Elohim brought about Ahaziah's downfall when he went to Joram. He went with Joram to meet Jehu, grandson of Nimshi. (Yahweh had anointed Jehu to destroy Ahab's family.) 8 When Jehu was executing judgment on Ahab's family, he found Judah's leaders (Ahaziah's nephews) who were serving Ahaziah, and he killed them. 9 He searched for Ahaziah, and Jehu's men captured him while he was hiding in Samaria. They brought him to Jehu and killed him. Then they buried him. They explained, "Ahaziah is Jehoshaphat's grandson. Jehoshaphat dedicated his life to serving Yahweh with all his heart." But no one in Ahaziah's family was able to rule as king.

The Priest Jehoiada Opposes Queen Athaliah-2 Kings 11:1-20 10 When Ahaziah's mother, Athaliah, saw that her son was dead, she began to destroy the entire royal family of the house of Judah. 11 But Jehoshebath, daughter of the king and sister of Ahaziah, took Ahaziah's son Joash. She saved him from being killed with the king's other sons, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Jehoshebath was the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest. Because she was also Ahaziah's sister, she hid Joash from Athaliah. So he wasn't killed. 12 Joash was with the priests. He was hidden in Elohim's temple for six years while Athaliah ruled the country.

23 1 In the seventh year of Athaliah's reign, Jehoiada strengthened his position by making an agreement with the company commanders: Azariah, son of Jeroham, Ishmael, son of Jehohanan, Azariah, son of Obed, Maaseiah, son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat, son of Zichri. 2 They went around Judah, gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah and the leaders of the families of Israel, and came to Jerusalem. 3 The whole assembly made an agreement with the king in Elohim's temple.

Then Jehoiada said to them, "Here is the king's son. He should be king, as Yahweh said about David's descendants. 4 This is what you must do: One third of you, the priests and Levites who are on duty on the day of worship, must guard the gates. 5 Another third must be at the royal palace. And another third must be at Foundation Gate. All the people must be in the courtyards of Yahweh's temple. 6 No one should come into Yahweh's temple except the priests and the Levites who are on duty with them. They may enter because they are holy, but all other people should follow Yahweh's regulations. 7 The Levites should surround the king. Each man should have his weapon in his hand. Kill anyone who tries to come into the temple. Stay with the king wherever he goes."

8 So the Levites and all the Judeans did what the priest Jehoiada had ordered them. Each took his men who were coming on duty on the day of worship as well as those who were about to go off duty. Jehoiada had not dismissed the priestly divisions.

9 Jehoiada gave the commanders the spears and the small and large shields that had belonged to King David but were now in Elohim's temple. 10 All the troops stood with their weapons drawn. They were stationed around the king and around the altar and the temple (from the south side to the north side of the temple). 11 Then they brought out the king's son, gave him the crown and the religious instructions, and Jehoiada and his sons made him king by anointing him. They said, "Long live the king!"

12 When Athaliah heard the people running and praising the king, she went into Yahweh's temple, where the people were. 13 She looked, and the king was standing by the pillar at the entrance. The commanders and the trumpeters were by his side. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. The singers were leading the celebration with songs accompanied by musical instruments. As Athaliah tore her clothes in distress, she said, "Treason, treason!"

14 Then the priest Jehoiada brought the company commanders who were in charge of the army out of the temple. He said to them, "Take her out of the temple. Use your sword to kill anyone who follows her." (The priest had said, "Don't kill her in Yahweh's temple.") 15 So they arrested her as she entered Horse Gate of the royal palace, and they killed her there.

16 Jehoiada made a promise to the LORD on behalf of the king and his people that they would be Yahweh's people. 17 Then all the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed Baal's altars and his statues and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.

18 Next, Jehoiada appointed officials to be in charge of Yahweh's temple under the direction of the priests and Levites.a (David had arranged them in divisions for Yahweh's temple. They were appointed to sacrifice burnt offerings to Yahweh as it is written in Moses' Teachings. They made these offerings with joy and singing as David had directed.) 19 Jehoiada appointed gatekeepers for the gates of Yahweh's temple so that no one who was uncleanb for any reason could enter.

20 He took the company commanders, the nobles, the people's governors, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from Yahweh's temple. They went through Upper Gate to the royal palace and seated the king on the royal throne. The nobles, the governors of the people, and 21 all the people of the land were celebrating. But the city was quiet because they had killed Athaliah with a sword.

King Joash of Judah-2 Kings 11:21-12:14 24 1 Joashc was 7 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 40 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba. 2 Joash did what Yahweh considered right, as long as the priest Jehoiada lived.

3 Jehoiada got Joash two wives, and Joash had sons and daughters.

4 After this, Joash wanted to renovate Yahweh's temple. 5 He gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, "Go to the cities of Judah, and collect money throughout Israel to repair the temple of your Elohim every year. Do it immediately!" But the Levites didn't do it immediately.

6 So the king called for the chief priest Jehoiada and asked him, "Why didn't you require the Levites to bring the contributions from Judah and Jerusalem? Yahweh's servant Moses and the assembly had required Israel to give contributions for the use of the tent containing the words of God's promise." 7 (The sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into Elohim's temple and used all the holy things of Yahweh's temple to worship other gods-the Baals.) 8 The king issued an order, and they made a box and placed it outside the gate of Yahweh's temple. 9 Then they issued a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem that the contributions should be brought to Yahweh. (In the desert Elohim's servant Moses had required Israel to make contributions.) 10 All the officials and all the people were overjoyed. They brought the money and dropped it into the box until it was full. 11 Whenever the Levites brought the box to the king's officers and they saw a lot of money, the king's scribe and the chief priest's officer would empty the box and put it back in its place. They would do this every day, so they collected a lot of money. 12 The king and Jehoiada would give the money to the foremen who were working on Yahweh's temple, and they hired masons and carpenters to renovate Yahweh's temple. They also hired men who worked with iron and bronze to repair Yahweh's temple. 13 As the men worked, the project progressed under the foremen's guidance. They restored Elohim's temple to its proper condition and reinforced it.

14 When they finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, who used it to make utensils for Yahweh's temple. They made dishes and gold and silver utensils for the service and for the offerings. As long as Jehoiada lived, they sacrificed burnt offerings in Yahweh's temple.

Joash's Sin Leads to His Assassination-2 Kings 12:17-21 15 When Jehoiada was old and had lived out his years, he died. He was 130 years old when he died. 16 He was buried in the City of David with the kings because of the good he had done in Israel for Elohim and the temple.

17 After he died, the officials of Judah bowed in front of the king with their faces touching the ground. Then the king listened to their advice. 18 They abandoned the temple of Yahweh Elohim of their ancestors and worshiped idols and the poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah. This offense of theirs brought Elohim's anger upon Judah and Jerusalem.

19 Yahweh sent them prophets to bring them back to himself. The prophets warned them, but they wouldn't listen. 20 The Ruach Elohim gave Zechariah, son of the priest Jehoiada, strength. Zechariah stood in front of the people and said to them, "This is what Elohim says: Why are you breaking Yahweh's commands? You won't prosper that way! Yahweh has abandoned you because you have abandoned him." 21 But they plotted against Zechariah, and by the king's order they stoned him to death in the courtyard of Yahweh's temple. 22 King Joash did not remember how kind Zechariah's father, Jehoiada, had been to him. Instead, he killed Jehoiada's son. As Zechariah died, he said, "May Yahweh see this and get revenge!"

23 At the end of the year, the Aramean army attacked Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the people's leaders. The Arameans sent all the loot they took from Judah and Jerusalem to the king of Damascus. 24 The Aramean army had come with a small number of men, but Yahweh handed Joash's large army over to them because Joash's soldiers had abandoned Yahweh Elohim of their ancestors. So the Arameans carried out the LORD'S judgment on Joash. 25 When the Arameans withdrew, they left him suffering from many wounds. His own officials plotted against him for murdering the son of the priest Jehoiada. They killed Joash in his bed. When he died, they buried him in the City of David, but they didn't bury him in the tombs of the kings. 26 These were the men who conspired against him: Zabad, son of an Ammonite woman named Shimeath, and Jehozabad, son of a Moabite woman named Shimrith. 27 The record about his sons, the many divine revelations against him, and the rebuilding of Elohim's temple is in the notes made in the Book of the Kings. His son Amaziah succeeded him as king.

King Amaziah of Judah-2 Kings 14:1-7 25 1 Amaziah was 25 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jehoaddan from Jerusalem. 2 He did what Yahweh considered right, but he did not do it wholeheartedly. 3 As soon as he had firm control over the kingdom, he executed the officials who killed his father, the former king. 4 But he didn't execute their children. He obeyed Yahweh's command written in the Book of Moses' Teachings: "Parents must never be put to death for the crimes of their children, and children must never be put to death for the crimes of their parents. Each person must be put to death for his own crime."

5 Amaziah called the people of Judah together and assigned them by families to regiment and battalion commanders for all of Judah and Benjamin. He organized those who were at least 20 years old and found that he had 300,000 of the best men for the army, those who could handle a spear and a shield. 6 He also hired 100,000 soldiers from Israel for 7,500 pounds of silver.

7 But a man of Elohim came to him and said, "Your Majesty, Israel's army must not go with you, because Yahweh isn't with Israel. He's not with these men from Ephraim. 8 If you go into battle with them, no matter how courageous you are, Elohim will use the enemy to defeat you, because Elohim has the power to help you or to defeat you."

9 Amaziah asked the man of Elohim, "What should I do about the 7,500 pounds of silver I gave the troops from Israel?"

The man of Elohim answered, "Yahweh can give you much more than that."

10 Then Amaziah dismissed the troops that had come to him from Ephraim. But they became furious with Judah and returned home.

11 Amaziah courageously led his troops. When he came to the Dead Sea region, he killed 10,000 men from Seir.a 12 The Judeans captured another 10,000 alive, took them to the top of a cliff, and threw them off the top of the cliff so that they were dismembered.

13 The troops that Amaziah sent back so that they couldn't go with him into battle raided the towns in Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed 3,000 people and took a lot of goods.

King Amaziah's Sin Leads to His Defeat-2 Kings 14:8-20 14 After Amaziah came back from defeating the Edomites, he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down to them, and burned sacrifices to them. 15 Yahweh became angry with Amaziah. He sent him a prophet who asked him, "Why do you dedicate your life to serving the gods of those people? Those gods couldn't save their own people from you."

16 As he was talking, the king asked him, "Did we make you an adviser to the king? Stop! Do you want me to have you killed?"

The prophet stopped. He said, "I know that Elohim has decided to destroy you because you did this, but you refuse to listen to my advice."

17 After getting advice from his advisers, King Amaziah of Judah sent messengers to King Jehoash,b son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu of Israel, to declare war on Israel.

18 King Jehoash of Israel sent this message to King Amaziah of Judah: "A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon. It said, 'Let your daughter marry my son,' but a wild animal from Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle. 19 You say you defeated Edom, and now you've become arrogant enough to look for more fame. Stay home! Why must you invite disaster and your own defeat and take Judah with you?"

20 But Amaziah wouldn't listen. (Elohim made this happen because he wanted to hand over the Judeans to Jehoash because they had sought help from Edom's gods.) 21 So King Jehoash of Israel attacked, and King Amaziah of Judah met him in battle at Beth Shemesh in Judah. 22 Israel defeated the army of Judah, and the Judeans fled to their homes. 23 King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah, son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah of Judah, at Beth Shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem. He tore down a 600-foot section of the wall around Jerusalem from Ephraim Gate to Corner Gate. 24 He took all the gold, silver, and all the utensils he found in Elohim's temple with Obed Edom and in the royal palace treasury. He also took hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.

25 Joash's son King Amaziah of Judah lived 15 years after the death of Jehoahaz's son King Jehoash of Israel. 26 Isn't everything else about Amaziah, from beginning to end, written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel? 27 After Amaziah turned away from Yahweh , conspirators in Jerusalem plotted against him. Amaziah fled to Lachish, but they sent men to Lachish after him and killed him there. 28 They brought him back by horse and buried him in the city of Judah with his ancestors.

King Uzziah of Judah-2 Kings 14:21-15:3 26 1 All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was 16 years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 2 Uzziah rebuilt Elath and returned it to Judah after King Amaziah lay down in death with his ancestors. 3 Uzziah was 16 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem. 4 He did what Yahweh considered right, as his father Amaziah had done. 5 He dedicated his life to serving Elohim in the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear Elohim. As long as he dedicated his life to serving Yahweh, Elohim gave him success.

6 Uzziah went to wage war against the Philistines. He tore down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. He built cities near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines. 7 Elohim helped him when he attacked the Philistines, the Arabs who lived in Gur Baal, and the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites paid taxes to Uzziah, and his fame spread to the border of Egypt because he became very powerful. 9 Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at Corner Wall, Valley Gate, and the Angle, and he reinforced them. 10 He built towers in the desert. He dug many cisterns because he had a lot of herds in the foothills and the plains. He had farmers and vineyard workers in the mountains and the fertile fields because he loved the soil.

11 Uzziah had an army of professional soldiers. They were ready to go to war in their companies based on the number organized by the scribe Jeiel and the officer Maaseiah. They were commanded by Hananiah, one of the king's officials. 12 The total number of family heads among these warriors was 2,600. 13 Under them was an army of 307,500 soldiers. They were a powerful force that could support the king against the enemy. 14 For the entire army Uzziah prepared shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and stones for slings. 15 In Jerusalem he made machines designed by inventive people. The machines were placed on the towers and corners to shoot arrows and hurl large stones.

King Uzziah Is Cursed with a Skin Disease-2 Kings 15:5-7 Uzziah's fame spread far and wide because he had strong support until he became powerful. 16 But when he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He was unfaithful to Yahweh his Elohim . He went into Yahweh's temple to burn incense on the incense altar. 17 The priest Azariah went in after him with 80 of Yahweh's courageous priests. 18 They opposed King Uzziah. They said to him, "Uzziah, you have no right to burn incense as an offering to Yahweh. That right belongs to the priests, Aaron's descendants, who have been given the holy task of burning incense. Get out of the holy place because you have been unfaithful. Yahweh Elohim will not honor you for this."

19 Uzziah, who held an incense burner in his hand, became angry. While he was angry with the priests, a skin disease broke out on his forehead. This happened in front of the priests in Yahweh's temple as Uzziah was at the incense altar. 20 When the chief priest Azariah and all the priests turned toward him, a skin disease was on his forehead. They rushed him away. Uzziah was in a hurry to get out because Yahweh had inflicted him with the disease.

21 King Uzziah had a skin disease until the day he died. Since he had a skin disease, he lived in a separate house and was barred from Yahweh's temple. His son Jotham was in charge of the royal palace and governed the country.

22 Everything else about Uzziah, from beginning to end, is recorded by the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz. 23 Uzziah lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried with them in a field containing tombs that belonged to the kings. People said, "He had a skin disease." His son Jotham succeeded him as king.

King Jotham of Judah-2 Kings 15:32-38 27 1 Jotham was 25 years old when he began to rule. He ruled for 16 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jerushah, daughter of Zadok. 2 He did what Yahweh considered right, as his father Uzziah had done. But unlike his father, he didn't illegally enter Yahweh's temple. Nevertheless, the people continued their corrupt ways.

3 Jotham built the Upper Gate of Yahweh's temple and did extensive building of the wall at the Ophel. 4 He built cities in the hills of Judah, and he built forts and towers in the wooded areas. 5 He fought with the king of the Ammonites and conquered them. That year the Ammonites gave him 7,500 pounds of silver, 60,000 bushels of wheat, and 60,000 bushels of barley. The Ammonites gave him the same amount for two more years. 6 Jotham grew powerful because he was determined to live as Yahweh his Elohim wanted.

7 Everything else about Jotham-all his wars and his life-is written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was 25 years old when he began to rule as king. He ruled for 16 years in Jerusalem. 9 Jotham lay down in death with his ancestors, and they buried him in the City of David. His son Ahaz succeeded him as king.

King Ahaz of Judah-2 Kings 16:1-20 28 1 Ahaz was 20 years old when he began to rule. He ruled for 26 years in Jerusalem. He didn't do what Yahweh considered right, as his ancestor David had done. 2 He followed the example of the kings of Israel and even made metal idols for worshiping other gods-the Baals. 3 He burned sacrifices in the valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his son by burning him alive, one of the disgusting things done by the nations that Yahweh had forced out of the Israelites' way. 4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense as an offering at the illegal worship sites, which were on hills and under every large tree.

5 So Yahweh his Elohim handed him over to the king of Aram, who defeated him, captured many prisoners, and brought them to Damascus. He also handed him over to the king of Israel, who decisively defeated him. 6 In one day Pekah, son of Remaliah, killed 120,000 soldiers in Judah because they had abandoned Yahweh Elohim of their ancestors. 7 Zichri, a fighting man from Ephraim, killed Maaseiah, who was the king's son, Azrikam, who was in charge of the palace, and Elkanah, who was the king's second-in-command. 8 The Israelites captured 200,000 women, boys, and girls from their relatives the Judeans. They also took a lot of goods from Judah and brought them to Samaria.

9 A prophet of Yahweh named Oded was there. He went to meet the army coming home to Samaria. He said to them, "Yahweh Elohim of your ancestors handed Judah over to you in his anger. You killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven. 10 Now you intend to enslave the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem. But aren't you also guilty of sinning against Yahweh your Elohim? 11 Listen to me. Return these prisoners you have captured from your relatives, because Yahweh is very angry with you."

12 Then Azariah, son of Jehohan, Berechiah, son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah, son of Shallum, and Amasa, son of Hadlai (some leaders of Ephraim) opposed those coming home from the army. 13 They said to the army, "Don't bring the prisoners here. You'll make us responsible for this sin against Yahweh. Do you intend to add to all our sins? Yahweh is very angry with Israel because we have already sinned."

14 So the army left the prisoners and the loot in front of the leaders and the whole assembly. 15 Then the men who were mentioned by name took charge of the prisoners and gave clothes from the loot to all the prisoners who were naked. They provided clothes for them, gave them sandals, gave them something to eat and drink, and let them bathe. They put everyone who was exhausted on donkeys and brought them to Jericho (the City of Palms) near their own people. Then they returned to Samaria.

16 At that time King Ahaz sent for help from the kings of Assyria. 17 The Edomites had again invaded and defeated Judah and captured prisoners. 18 The Philistines had raided the foothills and the Negev in Judah. They captured and began living in Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco and its villages, Timnah and its villages, and Gimzo and its villages. 19 Yahweh humbled Judah because of King Ahaz of Israel. Ahaz had spread sin throughout Judah and was unfaithful to Yahweh.

20 King Tillegath Pilneser of Assyria attacked Ahaz. Instead of strengthening Ahaz, Tillegath Pilneser made trouble for him. 21 Ahaz took some of the things from Yahweh's temple, the royal palace, and the princes, and he gave them to the king of Assyria. But that didn't help him. 22 When he had this trouble, King Ahaz became more unfaithful to Yahweh. 23 He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, the gods who had defeated him. He thought, "The gods of the kings of Aram are helping them. I'll sacrifice to them so that they will help me." But they ruined him and all Israel.

24 Ahaz collected the utensils in Elohim's temple, cut them up, and closed the doors to Yahweh's temple. He made altars for himself on every corner in Jerusalem. 25 And in each city of Judah, he made places of worship to sacrifice to other gods. So he made Yahweh Elohim of his ancestors angry.

26 Everything else about him-everything from beginning to end-is written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 27 Ahaz lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the city of Jerusalem because they didn't put him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah succeeded him as king.

King Hezekiah Rededicates the Temple-2 Kings 18:1-3 29 1 Hezekiah began to rule as king when he was 25 years old. He ruled for 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Abijah, daughter of Zechariah. 2 He did what Yahweh considered right, as his ancestor David had done.

3 In the first month of his first year as king, he opened the doors of Yahweh's temple and repaired them. 4 He brought the priests and Levites together in the square on the east side of the temple.

5 He said to them, "Listen to me, Levites. Perform the ceremonies to make the temple of Yahweh Elohim of your ancestors holy. Remove anything that has been corrupted from the holy place. 6 Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what Yahweh our Elohim considered evil. They deserted him. They turned away from Yahweh's tenta and turned their backs on him. 7 They also shut the doors of the temple's entrance hall, extinguished the lamps, and didn't burn incense or sacrifice burnt offerings in the holy place to the Elohim of Israel. 8 So Yahweh was angry with Judah and Jerusalem. He made them something that shocks and terrifies people and that people ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes. 9 Our fathers were killed in battle, and our sons, daughters, and wives are prisoners because of this. 10 Now I intend to make a pledge to Yahweh Elohim of Israel so that he may turn his burning anger away from us. 11 Don't be negligent, my sons. Yahweh has chosen you to stand in front of him, serve him, be his servants, and burn sacrifices."

12 So the Levites started to work.

From Kohath's descendants were Mahath, son of Amasai, and Joel, son of Azariah.

From Merari's descendants were Kish, son of Abdi, and Azariah, son of Jehallelel.

From Gershon's descendants were Joah, son of Zimmah, and Eden, son of Joah.

13 From Elizaphan's descendants were Shimri and Jeiel.

From Asaph's descendants were Zechariah and Mattaniah.

14 From Heman's descendants were Jehiel and Shimei.

From Jeduthun's descendants were Shemaiah and Uzziel.

15 These men gathered their relatives and performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy. Then they obeyed the king's order from Yahweh's word and entered the temple to make it clean.a 16 The priests entered Yahweh's temple to make it clean. They carried into the courtyard every unclean thing that they found in Yahweh's temple. Then the Levites took the unclean items outside the city to the Kidron Brook. 17 They started on the first day of the first month. On the eighth day they went into Yahweh's entrance hall, and for eight days they performed the ceremonies to make Yahweh's temple holy. They finished on the sixteenth day of the first month.

18 Then they went to King Hezekiah. They said to him, "We have made all of Yahweh's temple clean. This includes the altar for burnt offerings, all its utensils, the table for the rows of bread and all its utensils, 19 and all the utensils King Ahaz refused to use during his reign when he was unfaithful. We have restored them and made them holy. They are in front of Yahweh's altar."

20 Early in the morning Hezekiah gathered the leaders of the city and went to Yahweh's temple. 21 They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as an offering for sin for the kingdom, the holy place, and Judah. Hezekiah told the priests, Aaron's descendants, to sacrifice the animals on Yahweh's altar.

22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests sprinkled the blood on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. After that, they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar. 23 Then they brought the male goats for the offering for sin in front of the king and the assembly, who laid their hands on them. 24 The priests slaughtered the goats and made their blood an offering for sin at the altar to make peace with the LORD for Israel. The king had said that the burnt offerings and offerings for sin should be for all Israel.

25 He had the Levites stand in Yahweh's temple with cymbals, harps, and lyres as David, the king's seerb Gad, and the prophet Nathan had ordered. This command came from Yahweh through his prophets. 26 The Levites stood with David's instruments, and the priests had the trumpets. 27 Then Hezekiah ordered the sacrificing of burnt offerings on the altar. When the burnt offerings started, the songs to Yahweh started. These songs were accompanied by trumpets and the instruments of King David of Israel. 28 The whole assembly bowed down with their faces touching the ground, singers began to sing, and the trumpets blew until the burnt offering was finished. 29 When the burnt offerings were finished, the king and everyone who was with him kneeled and bowed down. 30 Then King Hezekiah and the leaders told the Levites to praise Yahweh with the words of David and the seer Asaph. They joyfully sang praises, bowed down, and worshiped.

31 Hezekiah said, "You have dedicated your lives to Yahweh. Come, bring sacrifices and thank offerings to Yahweh's temple."

The assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and everyone who was willing brought burnt offerings. 32 The burnt offerings brought by the assembly totaled 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs. All of these were burnt offerings to Yahweh. 33 The animals dedicated as holy sacrifices were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep. 34 But the priests needed more help to skin all the burnt offerings. So their relatives, the Levites, helped them until the work was completed and the priests could make themselves holy. The Levites were more diligent in making themselves holy than the priests were. 35 There were many burnt offerings in addition to the fat of the fellowship offerings and wine offerings that accompanied the burnt offerings. So the worship in Yahweh's temple was reestablished. 36 Hezekiah and all the people were overjoyed because of what Elohim had done for the people. Everything had happened so quickly.

Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover 30 1 Hezekiah sent a message to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. He invited them to come to Yahweh's temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of Yahweh Elohim of Israel.

2 The king, his officials, and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month. 3 They couldn't celebrate it at the regular time because not enough priests had performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy and the people hadn't gathered in Jerusalem. 4 The king and the whole assembly considered their plan to be the right thing to do. 5 So they decided to send an announcement throughout Israel from Beersheba to Dan. They summoned everyone to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of Yahweh Elohim of Israel. These people had not celebrated it in large numbers as the written instructions said they should.

6 Messengers took letters from the king and his officials throughout Israel and Judah. The king's order said, "Israelites, return to Yahweh Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Then he will return to the few of you who escaped from the power of the kings of Assyria. 7 Don't be like your ancestors and your relatives who were unfaithful to Yahweh Elohim of their ancestors. He made them something that shocks people, as you have seen. 8 Don't be impossible to deal with like your ancestors. Reach out for Yahweh. Come to his holy place that he made holy forever. Serve Yahweh your Elohim, and he will turn his burning anger away from you. 9 When you return to Yahweh, your relatives and children will find compassion from those who captured them. They will return to this land. Yahweh your Elohim is merciful and compassionate. He will notturn his face away from you if you return to him."

10 So the messengers went from city to city in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun. But the people ridiculed them. 11 However, some people from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 Also, Elohim guided the people of Judah so that they united to carry out the command which the king and the leaders gave from Yahweh's word.

13 Many people gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month. They formed a large assembly.

14 Then the people got rid of the idols' altars in Jerusalem. They got rid of all the altars for incense by dumping them in the Kidron Valley.

15 They slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and Levites were ashamed, so they performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy. Then they brought burnt offerings to Yahweh's temple. 16 They stood in their regular places as instructed by Moses' Teachings. (Moses was a man of Elohim.) The priests sprinkled the blood they received from the Levites. 17 Many people in the assembly had not made themselves holy. So the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all who weren't cleana and couldn't make their lambs holy for Yahweh.

18 Many people from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not made themselves clean. So they ate the Passover, but not in the way the written instructions said they should. Hezekiah prayed for them: "May the good Yahweh forgive 19 those who have their hearts set on dedicating their lives to serving Elohim. May Yahweh Elohim of their ancestors do this for those who are not clean as required for the holy place." 20 Yahweh listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.

21 So the Israelites in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. Each day the Levites and priests praised Yahweh in song. They played Yahweh's instruments loudly. 22 Hezekiah spoke encouraging words to all the Levites who had the skills to serve Yahweh . They ate the festival meals for seven days, sacrificed fellowship offerings, and confessed their sins to Yahweh Elohim of their ancestors.

23 Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate the festival for seven more days. So they joyfully celebrated for seven more days. 24 King Hezekiah of Judah provided 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep as sacrifices for the assembly. The leaders provided 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep for the assembly. So a large number of priests were able to perform the ceremonies to make themselves holy.