25 The whole assembly from Judah, the priests, the Levites, the whole assembly from Israel, the foreigners who came from Israel, and those who lived in Judah rejoiced. 26 The city of Jerusalem was filled with joy. Nothing like this had happened in Jerusalem since the days of King Solomon of Israel.

27 Then the Levitical priests blessed the people. Their voices were heard, and their prayers went to Elohim's holy place in heaven.

Hezekiah Reforms Judah's Worship 31 1 When this was over, all the Israelites who were there went to the cities in Judah. They crushed the sacred stones, cut down the poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah, and tore down the illegal places of worship and the altars throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. The Israelites destroyed all of these things. Then all the Israelites returned to their own cities. Each person went to his own property.

2 Hezekiah assigned the priests and the Levites to divisions. Each priest or Levite was put in a division based on the service he performed: sacrificing burnt offerings, sacrificing fellowship offerings, serving, giving thanks, or praising within the gates of Yahweh's camp.

3 He set aside part of the king's property for burnt offerings, the morning and evening offerings, burnt offerings on the weekly worship days, the New Moon Festivals, and the annual festivals, as it is written in Yahweh's Teachings. 4 He told the people living in Jerusalem to give the priests and Levites the portions they were due so that they could devote themselves to Yahweh's Teachings. 5 As soon as the word spread, the Israelites brought plenty of offerings from the first of their produce: grain, new wine, fresh olive oil, honey, and every crop from the fields. They brought large quantities, a tenth of everything. 6 The people of Israel and Judah who were living in the cities of Judah brought a tenth of their cattle and sheep and a tenth of the holy things they had dedicated to Yahweh their Elohim. They piled these holy things in heaps. 7 In the third month they started piling them up, and in the seventh month they finished. 8 When Hezekiah and the leaders saw the heaps, they praised Yahweh and his people Israel.

9 Hezekiah asked the priests and the Levites about the heaps. 10 The chief priest Azariah from Zadok's family said, "Since the people started to bring the offerings to Yahweh's temple, we have had all we wanted to eat and plenty to spare. Yahweh has blessed his people, and there's a lot left over."

11 Then Hezekiah told them to prepare storerooms in Yahweh's temple. After they had prepared them, 12 they faithfully brought in the contributions, the offerings of one-tenth of the crops, and the gifts dedicated to God. The Levite Conaniah was in charge of these things, and his brother Shimei was his assistant. 13 King Hezekiah and Azariah, who was in charge of Elohim's temple, appointed Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah to serve under Conaniah and his brother Shimei. 14 Kore, son of Imnah the Levite, was the gatekeeper at East Gate and had to take care of the freewill offerings made to Elohim. His responsibility was to distribute the offerings made to Yahweh and the holy gifts dedicated to God. 15 Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah served under him in the cities belonging to the priests. They were to distribute the offerings faithfully to all their relatives, young and old, by their divisions. 16 They were appointed to distribute them to males who were at least three years old. The way they were enrolled in the genealogical records did not matter. The six men who served under Kore were to distribute the offerings to everyone who went to Yahweh's temple to perform the daily service that each division was responsible for. 17 They were to distribute offerings to the priests who were enrolled by families and to the Levites who were at least 20 years old. Distribution was based on the way they served in their divisions. 18 The priests and Levites were enrolled with their wives, sons, daughters, and other people who depended on them-the whole community. The priests and Levites had to be faithful in keeping themselves holy for the holy work. 19 Men were appointed to give a portion of the offerings to all the males in the priestly families and to everyone listed in the genealogies of the Levites. These men were Aaron's descendants, priests who lived in the pasturelands of every Levite city.

20 This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and right and true to Yahweh his Elohim. 21 Hezekiah incorporated Moses' Teachings and commands into worship and dedicated his life to serving Elohim. Whatever he did for the worship in Elohim's temple, he did wholeheartedly, and he succeeded.

God Saves Judah from the Assyrians-2 Kings 18:13-19:37; Isaiah 36:1-37:38 32 1 After everything Hezekiah had done so faithfully, King Sennacherib of Assyria came to invade Judah. He set up camp to attack the fortified cities. He intended to conquer them himself.

2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come to wage war against Jerusalem, 3 he, his officers, and his military staff made plans to stop the water from flowing out of the springs outside the city. They helped him do it. 4 A large crowd gathered as they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the land. They said, "Why should the kings of Assyria find plenty of water?"

5 Hezekiah worked hard. He rebuilt all the broken sections of the wall, made the towers taller, built another wall outside the city wall, strengthened the Milloa in the City of David, and made plenty of weapons and shields. 6 He appointed military commanders over the troops and gathered the commanders in the square by the city gate. He spoke these words of encouragement: 7 "Be strong and courageous. Don't be frightened or terrified by the king of Assyria or the crowd with him. Someone greater is on our side. 8 The king of Assyria has human power on his side, but Yahweh our Elohim is on our side to help us and fight our battles." So the people were encouraged by what King Hezekiah of Judah said.

9 After this, while King Sennacherib of Assyria and all his royal forces were attacking Lachish, he sent his officers to King Hezekiah of Judah and to all of the people in Judah who were in Jerusalem to say: 10 "This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: Why are you so confident as you live in Jerusalem while it is blockaded? 11 Isn't Hezekiah misleading you and abandoning you to die from hunger and thirst when he says, 'Yahweh our Elohim will rescue us from the king of Assyria?' 12 Isn't this the same Hezekiah who got rid of Yahweh's places of worship and altars and told Judah and Jerusalem, 'Worship and sacrifice at one altar?' 13 Don't you know what I and my predecessors have done to the people of all other countries? Were any of the gods of these other nations ever able to rescue their countries from me? 14 Were the gods of these nations able to rescue their people from my control? My predecessors claimed and destroyed those nations. Is your Elohim able to rescue you from my control? 15 Don't let Hezekiah deceive you or persuade you like this. Don't believe him. No god of any nation or kingdom could save his people from me or my ancestors. Certainly, your Elohim will not rescue you from me!"

16 Sennacherib's officers said more against Yahweh Elohim and his servant Hezekiah. 17 Sennacherib wrote letters cursing Yahweh Elohim of Israel. These letters said, "As the gods of the nations in other countries couldn't rescue their people from me, Hezekiah's Elohim cannot rescue his people from me." 18 Sennacherib's officers shouted loudly in the Judean language to the troops who were on the wall of Jerusalem. They tried to frighten and terrify the troops so that they could capture the city. 19 They spoke about the Elohim of Jerusalem as if he were one of the gods made by human hands and worshiped by the people in other countries.

20 Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, prayed about this and called to heaven. 21 Yahweh sent an angel who exterminated all the soldiers, officials, and commanders in the Assyrian king's camp. Humiliated, Sennacherib returned to his own country. When he went into the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him with a sword. 22 So Yahweh saved Hezekiah and the people living in Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria and from everyone else. Yahweh gave them peace with all their neighbors.

23 Many people still went to Jerusalem to bring gifts to Yahweh and expensive presents to King Hezekiah of Judah. From then on, he was considered important by all the nations.

Other Events in Hezekiah's Life-2 Kings 20:1-21; Isaiah 38:1-8, 21-22; 39:1-8 24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was about to die. He prayed to Yahweh, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. 25 But Hezekiah was conceited, so he didn't repay Yahweh for his kindness. Yahweh became angry with him, with Judah, and with Jerusalem. 26 Hezekiah and the people living in Jerusalem humbled themselves when they realized they had become conceited. So Yahweh didn't vent his anger on them during Hezekiah's time.

27 Hezekiah became richer and was highly honored. He prepared storerooms for himself to hold silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuables. 28 He made sheds to store his harvests of grain, new wine, and fresh olive oil, and he made barns for all his cattle and stalls for his flocks. 29 He made cities for himself because he had many sheep and cattle. Elohim had given him a lot of property. 30 Hezekiah was the one who stopped the water from flowing from the upper outlet of Gihon. He channeled the water directly underground to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah succeeded in everything he did.

31 When the leaders of Babylon sent ambassadors to ask him about the miraculous sign that had happened in the land, Elohim left him. Elohim did this to test him, to find out everything that was in Hezekiah's heart.

32 Everything else about Hezekiah, including his devotion to Elohim , is written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, and in the records of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33 Hezekiah lay down in death with his ancestors. He was buried in the upper tombs of David's descendants. When Hezekiah died, all of Judah and the people in Jerusalem honored him. His son Manasseh succeeded him as king.

King Manasseh of Judah-2 Kings 21:1-20 33 1 Manasseh was 12 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 55 years in Jerusalem.

2 He did what Yahweh considered evil by copying the disgusting things done by the nations that Yahweh had forced out of the Israelites' way. 3 He rebuilt the illegal places of worship that his father Hezekiah had torn down. He set up altars dedicated to other gods-the Baals-and made a pole dedicated to the goddess Asherah as King Ahab of Israel had done. Manasseh, like Ahab, worshiped and served the entire army of heaven. 4 He built altars in Yahweh's temple, where Yahweh had said, "My name will be in Jerusalem forever." 5 In the two courtyards of Yahweh's temple, he built altars for the entire army of heaven. 6 He burned his son as a sacrifice in the valley of Ben Hinnom, consulted fortunetellers, cast evil spells, practiced witchcraft, and appointed royal mediums and psychics. He did many things that made Yahweh furious. 7 Manasseh had a carved idol made. Then he set it up in Elohim's temple, where Elohim had said to David and his son Solomon, "I have chosen this temple and Jerusalem from all the tribes of Israel. I will put my name here forever. 8 I will never again remove Israel from the land that I set aside for their ancestors if they will obey all the commands, all the teachings, the ordinances, and the regulations I gave through Moses." 9 Manasseh misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that they did more evil things than the nations that Yahweh had destroyed when the Israelites arrived in the land.

10 When Yahweh spoke to Manasseh and his people, they wouldn't even pay attention. 11 So Yahweh made the army commanders of the king of Assyria invade Judah. They took Manasseh captive, put a hook in his nose, put him in bronze shackles, and brought him to Babylon.

12 When he experienced this distress, he begged Yahweh his Elohim to be kind and humbled himself in front of the Elohim of his ancestors. 13 He prayed to Yahweh, and Yahweh accepted his prayer and listened to his request. Yahweh brought him back to his kingdom in Jerusalem. Then Manasseh knew that Yahweh is Elohim.

14 After this, Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David from west of Gihon Spring in the valley to the entrance of Fish Gate. He made the wall go around the Ophel, and he built it very high. He put army commanders in every fortified city in Judah.

15 Manasseh got rid of the foreign gods and the idol in Yahweh's temple. He got rid of the altars he had built in the temple on Yahweh's mountain and in Jerusalem. 16 He built Yahweh's altar and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it. And he told Judah to serve Yahweh Elohim of Israel. 17 The people continued to sacrifice at the illegal places of worship, but they sacrificed only to Yahweh their Elohim.

18 Everything else about Manasseh-including his prayer to his Elohim and the words that the seersa spoke to him in the name of Yahweh Elohim of Israel-are in the records of the kings of Israel. 19 His prayer and how Elohim accepted it are written in the records of Hozai. The things he did before he humbled himself are also written there. This includes all his sins and unfaithfulness and the places where he built illegal worship sites and set up idols and poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah.

20 Manasseh lay down in death with his ancestors. They buried him in his own palace. His son Amon succeeded him as king.

King Amon of Judah-2 Kings 21:19-26 21 Amon was 22 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 2 years in Jerusalem. 22 He did what Yahweh considered evil, as his father Manasseh had done. Amon sacrificed to all the idols his father Manasseh had made, and he worshiped them. 23 He didn't humble himself in front of Yahweh as his father Manasseh had humbled himself. Instead, Amon continued to sin.

24 His officials plotted against him and killed him in his palace. 25 Then the people of the land killed everyone who had plotted against King Amon. They made his son Josiah king in his place.

King Josiah Reforms Judah's Worship-2 Kings 22:1-2; 23:4-20 34 1 Josiah was 8 years old when he began to rule, and he was king for 31 years in Jerusalem. 2 He did what Yahweh considered right. He lived in the ways of his ancestor David and never stopped living this way.

3 In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still a boy, he began to dedicate his life to serving the Elohim of his ancestor David. In his twelfth year as king, he began to make Judah and Jerusalem cleanb by destroying the illegal places of worship, poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah, carved idols, and metal idols. 4 He had the altars of the various Baal gods torn down. He cut down the incense altars that were above them. He destroyed the Asherah poles, carved idols, and metal idols. He ground them into powder and scattered the powder over the tombs of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 He burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So he made Judah and Jerusalem clean. 6 In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, and as far as Naphtali, he removed all their temples,c 7 tore down the altars, beat the Asherah poles and idols into powder, and cut down all the incense altars everywhere in Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

King Josiah Rededicates Judah to God's Promise-2 Kings 22:3-23:4 8 In the eighteenth year of his reign as he was making the land and the temple clean, Josiah sent Shaphan, son of Azaliah, Maaseiah, the mayor of the city, and Joah, the royal historian and son of Joahaz, to repair the temple of Yahweh his Elohim. 9 They came to the chief priest Hilkiah and gave him the money that had been brought to Elohim's temple, the money that the Levite doorkeepers had collected from the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all who were left in Israel, from everyone in the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and from the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They gave the money to the foremen who were in charge of Yahweh's temple. These foremen gave it to the workmen who were restoring and repairing the temple. 11 (These workers included carpenters and builders.) They were to buy quarried stones and wood for the fittings and beams of the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to become run-down. 12 The men did their work faithfully under the supervision of Jahath and Obadiah (Levites descended from Merari), and Zechariah and Meshullam (descendants of Kohath). The Levites, who were skilled musicians, 13 also supervised the workers and directed all the workmen on the various jobs. Some of the Levites served as scribes, officials, or gatekeepers.

14 When they brought out the money that had been deposited in Yahweh's temple, the priest Hilkiah found the Book of Yahweh's Teachings written by Moses. 15 Hilkiah told the scribe Shaphan, "I have found the Book of the Teachings in Yahweh's temple." Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.

16 Shaphan took the book to the king and reported, "We are doing everything you told us to do. 17 We took the money that was donated in Yahweh's temple and gave it to the supervisors and the workmen." 18 Then the scribe Shaphan told the king, "The priest Hilkiah has given me a book." And Shaphan read it to the king.

19 When the king heard what the Teachings said, he tore his clothes in distress. 20 Then the king gave an order to Hilkiah, Ahikam (son of Shaphan), Abdon (son of Micah), the scribe Shaphan, and the royal official Asaiah. He said, 21 "On behalf of those who are left in Israel and Judah and me, ask Yahweh about the words in this book that was found. Yahweh's fierce anger has been poured on us because our ancestors did not obey the word of Yahweh by doing everything written in this book."

22 So Hilkiah and the king's officials went to talk to the prophet Huldah about this matter. She was the wife of Shallum, son of Tokhath and grandson of Hasrah. Shallum was in charge of the royal wardrobe. Huldah was living in the Second Part of Jerusalem.

23 She told them, "This is what Yahweh Elohim of Israel says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 24 'This is what Yahweh says: I'm going to bring disaster on this place and on the people living here according to the curses written in the book that was read to the king of Judah. 25 I will do this because they have abandoned me and sacrificed to other gods in order to make me furious. Therefore, my anger will be poured on this place and will never come to an end.'"

26 Huldah added, "Tell Judah's king who sent you to me to ask Yahweh a question, 'This is what Yahweh Elohim of Israel says about the words you heard: 27 You had a change of heart and humbled yourself in front of Elohim when you heard my words against this place and those who live here. You humbled yourself, tore your clothes in distress, and cried in front of me. So I will listen to you, declares Yahweh. 28 That is why I'm going to bring you to your ancestors. I'm going to bring you to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see any of the disaster I'm going to bring on this place and those who live here.'"

So they reported this to the king.

29 Then the king sent for all the respected leaders of Judah and Jerusalem to join him. 30 The king, everyone in Judah, everyone living in Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people (young and old) went up to Yahweh's temple. He read everything written in the Book of the Promisea found in Yahweh 'stemple so that they could hear it. 31 The king stood in his place and made a promise to Yahweh that he would follow Yahweh and obey his commands, instructions, and laws with all his heart and soul. He said he would live by the terms of the promise written in this book. 32 He also made all those found in Jerusalem and Benjamin join with him in the promise. Then the people of Jerusalem lived according to the promise of Elohim, the Elohim of their ancestors.

33 Josiah got rid of all the disgusting idols throughout Israelite territory. He made all people found in Israel serve Yahweh their Elohim . As long as he lived, they didn't stop following Yahweh Elohim of their ancestors.

King Josiah Celebrates the Passover-2 Kings 23:21-23 35 1 Josiah celebrated the Passover for Yahweh in Jerusalem. The Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2 Josiah appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them to serve in Yahweh's temple. 3 He told the Levites, who instructed all Israel and performed ceremonies to make themselves holy to Yahweh, "Put the holy ark in the temple that Solomon, son of David and king of Israel, built. It shouldn't be carried on your shoulders any longer. Serve Yahweh your Elohim and his people Israel. 4 Get yourselves ready with the family groups of your divisions, which are listed in the records of King David of Israel and the records of his son Solomon. 5 Stand in the holy place representing the family divisions of your relatives, the people of Israel. Let the Levites be considered a part of each family.a 6 Slaughter the Passover lamb, perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy, and prepare the lambs for the other Israelites as Yahweh instructed us through Moses."

7 Josiah provided the people with 33,000 sheep and goats to be sacrificed as Passover offerings for all who were present. In addition, he provided 3,000 bulls. (These animals were the king's property.) 8 His officials also voluntarily gave animals to the people, priests, and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the men in charge of Elohim's temple, gave the priests 2,600 sheep and goats and 300 bulls for Passover sacrifices. 9 Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, and Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, the leaders of the Levites, gave the Levites 5,000 sheep and goats and 500 bulls as Passover sacrifices.

10 So the service was prepared. The priests took their positions with the Levites according to their divisions, as the king had ordered. 11 They slaughtered the Passover lambs. The priests sprinkled the blood with their hands while the Levites skinned the lambs. 12 They set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the laypeople according to their family divisions. The laypeople could then present them to Yahweh as written in the Book of Moses. The Levites did the same with the bulls. 13 They roasted the Passover lambs according to the directions. They boiled the holy offerings in pots, kettles, and pans and immediately served them to all the people. 14 Later, they prepared the animals for themselves and for the priests because the priests (Aaron's descendants) were sacrificing the burnt offerings and the fat until that evening.

So the Levites prepared the animals for themselves and the priests. 15 The singers (Asaph's descendants) were in their places as David, Asaph, Heman, and the king's seerb Jeduthun had commanded. The gatekeepers were stationed at each gate. They didn't need to leave their work, because their relatives, the Levites, prepared animals for them.

16 So everything was arranged that day for the worship of Yahweh. The Passover was celebrated, and the burnt offerings were sacrificed on Yahweh's altar as King Josiah had commanded. 17 The Israelites who were present celebrated the Passover at that time. They also celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days.

18 Never had a Passover like this been celebrated in Israel during the time of the prophet Samuel or the kings of Israel. They did not celebrate the Passover as Josiah celebrated it with priests, Levites, all of Judah, the people of Israel who could be found, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 19 In the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign, this Passover was celebrated.

Josiah's Sin Leads to His Death-2 Kings 23:28-30a 20 After all this, when Josiah had repaired the temple, King Neco of Egypt came to fight a battle at Carchemish at the Euphrates River. Josiah went to attack him. 21 But Neco sent messengers to Josiah to say, "What's your quarrel with me, king of Judah? I'm not attacking you. I've come to fight those who are at war with me. Elohim told me to hurry. Elohim is with me, so stop now or else he will destroy you."

22 But Josiah would not stop his attack. He disguised himself as he went into battle. He refused to listen to Neco's words, which came from Elohim , and he went to fight in the valley of Megiddo.

23 Some archers shot King Josiah. The king told his officers, "Take me away because I'm badly wounded."

24 His officers took him out of the chariot and brought him to Jerusalem in his other chariot. He died and was buried in the tombs of his ancestors. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25 Jeremiah sang a funeral song about Josiah. All the male and female singers still sing funeral songs about Josiah today. This became a tradition in Israel. They are written in the Book of the Funeral Songs.

26 Everything else about Josiah-including his devotion to God by following what is written in Yahweh's Teachings 27 and his acts from first to last-are written in the records of the kings of Israel and Judah.

King Jehoahaz of Judah-2 Kings 23:30b-35 36 1 Then people of the land took Josiah's son Jehoahaz and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father. 2 Jehoahaz was 23 years old when he became king, and he was king in Jerusalem for 3 months. 3 The king of Egypt removed him from office in Jerusalem and fined the country 7,500 pounds of silver and 75 pounds of gold. 4 The king of Egypt made Jehoahaz's brother Eliakim king of Judah and Jerusalem and changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim. Neco took Jehoahaz away to Egypt.

King Jehoiakim of Judah-2 Kings 23:36-24:7 5 Jehoiakim was 25 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 11 years in Jerusalem. He did what Yahweh his Elohim considered evil. 6 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked Jehoiakim and put him in bronze shackles to take him to Babylon. 7 Nebuchadnezzar also brought some of the utensils of Yahweh's temple to Babylon. He put them in his palace in Babylon.

8 Everything else about Jehoiakim-the disgusting things he did and all the charges against him-is written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. His son Jehoiakin succeeded him as king.

King Jehoiakin of Judah-2 Kings 24:8-17 9 Jehoiakin was eight years old when he began to rule as king. He was king for three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what Yahweh considered evil.

10 In the spring King Nebuchadnezzar sent for Jehoiakin and brought him to Babylon with the valuable utensils from Yahweh's temple. Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoiakin's uncle Zedekiah king of Judah and Jerusalem.

King Zedekiah of Judah-2 Kings 24:18-25:21; Jeremiah 39:1-10; 52:1-27 11 Zedekiah was 21 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 11 years in Jerusalem. 12 He did what Yahweh his Elohim considered evil and didn't humble himself in front of the prophet Jeremiah, who spoke for Yahweh. 13 Zedekiah also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar had made Zedekiah swear an oath of allegiance to him in Elohim's name. But Zedekiah became so stubborn and so impossible to deal with that he refused to turn back to Yahweh Elohim of Israel.

14 All the officials, the priests, and the people became increasingly unfaithful and followed all the disgusting practices of the nations. Although Yahweh had made the temple in Jerusalem holy, they made the temple unclean.a 15 Yahweh Elohim of their ancestors repeatedly sent messages through his messengers because he wanted to spare his people and his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked Elohim's messengers, despised his words, and made fun of his prophets until Yahweh became angry with his people. He could no longer heal them.

17 So he had the Babylonian king attack them and execute their best young men in their holy temple. He didn't spare the best men or the unmarried women, the old people or the sick people. Yahweh handed all of them over to him. 18 He brought to Babylon each of the utensils from Elohim's temple, the treasures from Yahweh's temple, and the treasures of the king and his officials. 19 They burned Elohim's temple, tore down Jerusalem's walls, burned down all its palaces, and destroyed everything of value. 20 The king of Babylon took those who weren't executed to Babylon to be slaves for him and his sons. They remained captives until the Persian Empire began to rule. 21 This happened so that Yahweh's words spoken through Jeremiah would be fulfilled. The land had its years of rest and was made acceptable again. While it lay in ruins, the land had its 70 years of rest.

King Cyrus Allows the Jews to Return from Babylon-Ezra 1:1-3 22 The promise Yahweh had spoken through Jeremiah was about to come true in Cyrus' first year as king of Persia. Yahweh inspired the king to make this announcement throughout his whole kingdom and then to put it in writing.

23 This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: Yahweh Elohim of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the world. And he has ordered me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem (which is in Judah). May Yahweh Elohim be with all of you who are his people. You may go.

a 2:1 2 Chronicles 2:1-18 in English Bibles is 2 Chronicles 1:18-2:17 in the Hebrew Bible.

a 3:1 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

b 3:7 Or "cherubim."

a 4:14 1 Kings 7:43, Greek; Masoretic Text "he made stands, and he made basins. . ."

b 5:7 Or "cherubim."

c 5:9 A few Hebrew manuscripts, 1 Kings 8:8, Greek; other Hebrew manuscripts "The poles extended so long from the ark that their ends could be seen by anyone standing in front of the inner room."

d 5:12 The first part of verse 11 (in Hebrew) has been placed just before verse 13 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

a 6:14 Or "covenant."

a 8:7 "because the Israelites. . ." This clause has been moved from verse 8 (in Hebrew) to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

a 9:4 A cupbearer was a trusted royal official who ensured that the king's drink was not poisoned.

a 9:29 A seer is a prophet.

b 10:10 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

a 11:21 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

a 12:15 A seer is a prophet.

b 13:5 Or "covenant."

a 13:11 "Clean" refers to anything that Moses' Teachings say is presentable to God.

b 14:1 2 Chronicles 14:1-15 in English Bibles is 2 Chronicles 13:23-14:14 in the Hebrew Bible.

a 16:7 A seer is a prophet.

a 18:9 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

a 18:14 1 Kings 22:15; Masoretic Text "Micah."

a 19:2 A seer is a prophet.

b 20:1 Greek; Masoretic Text "and some of the Ammonites."

c 20:2 One Hebrew manuscript, Latin; other Hebrew manuscripts "Aram."

a 20:9 Greek; Masoretic Text "judgment."

b 20:25 Latin; Masoretic Text "corpses."

a 21:7 Or "covenant."

a 21:17 In the Masoretic Text this king of Judah is also called Jehoahaz, an alternate form of Ahaziah.

b 22:2 In the Masoretic Text this king of Judah is also called Jehoahaz, an alternate form of Ahaziah.

c 22:5 In the Masoretic Text this king of Israel is also called Jehoram, a longer form of Joram.

d 22:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, 2 Kings 8:29, Greek, Syriac, Latin; other Hebrew manuscripts "Azariah."

a 23:18 A few Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Syriac, Latin; most Hebrew manuscripts "Levitical priests."

b 23:19 "Unclean" refers to anything that Moses' Teachings say is not presentable to God.

c 24:1 In the Masoretic text this king of Judah is also called Jehoash, a longer form of Joash.