
SOLOMON'S GIFT OF 
WISDOM{/}

{1}1{/}

{I}1_{/}Solomon, son of 
David, took firm control 
of the Kingdom of Israel. 
Yahweh, his God, was with 
him and exalted him 
greatly. {I}2_{/}Solomon 
then spoke to all Israel, 
to commanders of 
thousands and of 
hundreds, to the judges, 
and to all the princes of 
Israel, the heads of 
families. {I}3_{/}Then 
Solomon, and with him the 
whole assembly, went to 
the High place at Gibeon, 
where God's Tent of 
Meeting was, which Moses, 
the servant of God, had 
made in the wilderness; 
{I}4_{/}David, however, 
had brought the ark of 
God from Kiriath-jearim 
to the place he had 
prepared for it, having 
set up a tent for it in 
Jerusalem. {I}5_{/}The 
bronze altar that 
Bezalel, son of Uri, son 
of Hur, had made stood 
there in front of the 
Holy Tent of Yahweh; 
Solomon, with the 
assembly, came to this 
altar, looking for 
Yahweh's presence. 
{I}6_{/}Solomon went up 
to the bronze altar that 
was by the Tent of 
Meeting, and offered a 
thousand burnt offerings 
on it.
{I}7_{/}That night, God 
appeared to Solomon and 
said, "Ask what you would 
like me to give you." 
{I}8_{/}Solomon replied 
to God, "You showed great 
kindness to David my 
father; and you have made 
me king in his place. 
{I}9_{/}Yahweh God, the 
promise you made to David 
my father has now been 
fulfilled, since you have 
made me king over a 
people who are so many 
that they cannot be 
counted. 
{I}10_{/}Therefore now 
give me wisdom and 
knowledge to act as 
leader of this people, 
for who could govern a 
people so great as 
yours?"
{I}11_{/}God said to 
Solomon, "Since that is 
what you want, you have 
asked, not for riches, 
treasure, honor, the 
lives of your enemies, or 
even for a long life, but 
for wisdom and knowledge 
to govern my people of 
whom I have made you 
king; {I}12_{/}therefore 
wisdom and knowledge are 
granted you. I give you 
riches too, and 
treasures, and honor such 
as none of the kings had 
that were before you, nor 
shall any have that come 
after you."
{I}13_{/}Solomon left the 
High place and the Tent 
of Meeting at Gibeon and 
returned to Jerusalem. 
{I}14_{/}Solomon built up 
a force of chariots and 
horses; he had one 
thousand four hundred 
chariots and twelve 
thousand horses; these he 
stationed in the chariot 
towns and with the king 
in Jerusalem. 
{I}15_{/}During his 
reign, silver and gold 
became as common in 
Jerusalem as stone, while 
cedar wood was as 
plentiful as the ordinary 
sycamore trees in the 
foothills of Judah. 
{I}16_{/}Solomon's horses 
were imported from 
Cilicia; the king's 
agents took delivery of 
them from Cilicia at a 
fixed rate. {I}17_{/}They 
imported chariots from 
Egypt for 600 pieces of 
silver each, and horses 
for 150 each. These men 
acted in the same way for 
all the kings of the 
Hittites and the kings of 
Aram. {I}18_{/}Solomon 
decided to build a house 
for Yahweh's Name and a 
palace for himself.
SOLOMON AND HURAM{/}

{1}2{/}

{I}1_{/}He put 70,000 men 
to work transporting 
materials, 80,000 to 
quarry in the hill 
country, and 3,600 
supervisors in charge of 
them. {I}2_{/}Solomon 
then sent this message to 
Huram king of Tyre, "Deal 
with me as you dealt with 
my father David when you 
sent him cedars to build 
a house to live in. 
{I}3_{/}I am now building 
a house to honor Yahweh, 
my God, to acknowledge 
his holiness by burning 
incense of scented spices 
in his presence, by the 
loaves that are 
perpetually set out, by 
offerings morning and 
evening, on the sabbath, 
New Moon, and the solemn 
festivals of Yahweh our 
God - and this forever in 
Israel. {I}4_{/}The house 
I am building will be 
large, for our God is 
greater than all gods. 
{I}5_{/}Yet no one can 
really build a temple for 
God because the heavens 
and the heaven cannot 
contain him. And I cannot 
build him a house for 
anything more than to 
burn incense in his 
presence. {I}6_{/}So send 
me a man skilled in 
working with gold, 
silver, bronze, iron, 
scarlet, crimson, violet, 
and the art of engraving 
too; he is to work with 
the skilled men whom my 
father David provided 
here in Judah and 
Jerusalem. {I}7_{/}From 
Lebanon send me cedar 
wood, juniper and 
algummim, since I know 
your servants are experts 
in felling the trees of 
Lebanon. My servants will 
work with yours. 
{I}8_{/}They will prepare 
wood in bulk for me, 
since the house I wish to 
build is to be of 
astounding size. 
{I}9_{/}For the woodmen 
who are to fell the trees 
I assign twenty thousand 
kors of grain, twenty 
thousand kors of barley, 
twenty thousand baths of 
wine, and twenty thousand 
baths of oil - this is 
for the maintenance of 
your servants."
{I}10_{/}In a letter sent 
to King Solomon, Huram 
king of Tyre replied, 
"Because Yahweh loves his 
people he has made you 
king. {I}11_{/}Blessed be 
Yahweh, the God of 
Israel, who has made the 
heavens and the earth, 
and given King David a 
wise son, full of 
understanding and skill, 
who is going to build a 
house for Yahweh and a 
palace for himself and 
his court. {I}12_{/}And I 
am also sending you a 
skilled craftsman, Huram-
abi, {I}13_{/}the son of 
a Danite woman by a 
Tyrian father. He is 
skilled in the use of 
gold, silver, bronze, 
iron, stone, wood, 
scarlet, violet, fine 
linen, crimson, in 
engraving of all kinds, 
and in the execution of 
any design suggested to 
him. Let him be put to 
work with your craftsmen 
and those of my lord 
David, your father. 
{I}14_{/}So now let my 
lord send his servants 
the wheat, barley, oil 
and wine, as already 
suggested.
{I}15_{/}For our part, we 
will cut down all the 
cedar trees you need from 
Lebanon, and bring them 
to you in rafts by sea to 
Joppa, and you will 
transport them to 
Jerusalem."
{I}16_{/}Solomon took a 
count of all the 
foreigners living in the 
land of Israel, following 
the census that David his 
father had taken; it was 
found there were a 
hundred and fifty-three 
thousand six hundred. 
{I}17_{/}He impressed 
seventy thousand of these 
for carrying loads, 
eighty thousand for 
quarrying in the hill 
country, and three 
thousand six hundred as 
overseers to make sure 
the people worked.
THE BUILDING OF YAHWEH'S 
HOUSE{/}

{1}3{/}

{I}1_{/}Solomon then 
began to build Yahweh's 
House in Jerusalem on 
Mount Moriah where David 
his father had a vision. 
It was the place prepared 
by David, the threshing 
floor of Ornan the 
Jebusite. {I}2_{/}Solomon 
began building in the 
second month of the 
fourth year of his reign, 
on the second day. 
{I}3_{/}The house which 
Solomon built was 90 feet 
long and 30 feet high. 
{I}4_{/}The Hall in front 
of the Great Room of the 
Temple was 30 cubits long 
across the width of the 
house, and its height was 
180 feet. He plated it on 
the inside with pure 
gold. {I}5_{/}The Great 
Room he faced with 
juniper which he plated 
with pure gold, and on it 
set palms and festoons. 
{I}6_{/}He adorned the 
building with precious 
stones of great beauty; 
the gold was gold from 
Parvaim, {I}7_{/}and with 
this he faced the house, 
the beams, thresholds, 
walls and doors; on the 
walls he carved cherubs.
{I}8_{/}He then built the 
Holy of Holies; its 
length, across the width 
of the Great Room, was 30 
feet, and its width 30 
feet. He plated it with 
25 tons of fine gold; 
{I}9_{/}the gold nails 
weighed 20 ounces. He 
also plated the upper 
rooms with gold. 
{I}10_{/}In the Holy of 
Holies he made two 
cherubs of wrought metal 
work and plated them with 
gold. {I}11_{/}The total 
span of the cherubs' 
wings was 30 feet, each 
being 7 1/2 feet long, 
with one wing touching 
the wall of the room, 
while the other touched 
that of the other cherub. 
{I}12_{/}One wing of a 
cherub, 7 1/2 feet long, 
touched the wall of the 
apartment; the second, 7 
1/2 feet long, touched 
the wing of the other 
cherub. {I}13_{/}The 
spread of these cherubs' 
wings was 30 feet. They 
stood on their feet, 
facing the Hall.
{I}14_{/}He made the Veil 
of violet, scarlet, 
crimson and fine linen; 
he worked cherubs on it.
{I}15_{/}In front of the 
Great room he made two 
pillars 52 feet high, and 
on the top of each a 
capital measuring 7 feet. 
{I}16_{/}He set festoons 
like in the Holy of 
holies, at the tops of 
the pillars, and a 
hundred pomegranates 
which he placed on the 
festoons. {I}17_{/}He set 
up the pillars in front 
of the house, one on the 
right, the other on the 
left; the one on the 
right he called Jachin, 
the one on the left Boaz.
{1}4{/}

{I}1_{/}He made an altar 
of bronze, 30 feet long, 
30 feet wide and ten 
high. {I}2_{/}He made the 
Sea of cast metal, 15 
feet from rim to rim, 
circular in shape and 7 
feet high; a cord 44 feet 
long gave the measurement 
of its girth. 
{I}3_{/}Under it and 
completely encircling it 
were pomegranates; they 
went around the Sea over 
a length of 44 feet; the 
pomegranates were in two 
rows, of one and the same 
casting with the rest. 
{I}4_{/}It rested on 
twelve oxen, three facing 
north, three facing west, 
three facing south, three 
facing east; on these, 
their hindquarters all 
turned inward, stood the 
Sea. {I}5_{/}It was a 
hand's breadth in 
thickness, and its rim 
was shaped like the rim 
of a cup, like a flower. 
It could hold 15,000 
gallons of water.
{I}6_{/}He made ten 
basins, arranging five on 
the right side, five on 
the left, for washing the 
victim for the burnt 
offering which was 
purified there; but the 
Sea was for the priests 
to wash in. {I}7_{/}He 
made the ten golden 
lampstands in the way 
prescribed and placed 
them in the Great room, 
five on the right and 
five on the left. 
{I}8_{/}He made a hundred 
golden sprinkling bowls.
{I}9_{/}He made the court 
of the priests and the 
great court with its 
gates and plated the 
gates with bronze. 
{I}10_{/}He placed the 
Sea some distance from 
the right-hand side, to 
the southeast.
{I}11_{/}Huram also made 
the pots, the shovels and 
the bowls. 
Thus he completed the 
work he had to do for 
King Solomon in the house 
of God: {I}12_{/}the two 
pillars; the two moldings 
of the capitals 
surmounting the pillars; 
the two sets of filigree 
to cover the two moldings 
of the capitals 
surmounting the pillars; 
{I}13_{/}the four hundred 
pomegranates for the two 
sets of filigree, with 
the pomegranates of each 
filigree in two rows; 
{I}14_{/}the ten stands 
and the ten basins on the 
stands; {I}15_{/}the Sea 
and the twelve oxen 
beneath it; {I}16_{/}the 
pots, the shovels, the 
forks, and all their 
accessories made by 
Huram-abi of burnished 
bronze for King Solomon, 
for Yahweh's House. 
{I}17_{/}The king made 
them by the process of 
sand casting, near the 
Jordan between Succoth 
and Zeredah. 
{I}18_{/}Solomon made all 
these articles in such 
quantities, that the 
weight of bronze could 
not be reckoned.
{I}19_{/}Solomon placed 
all the furnishings he 
had made in the house of 
God: the golden altar and 
the tables for the loaves 
of offering; {I}20_{/}the 
lampstands of pure gold 
with their lamps to burn, 
as prescribed, before the 
sanctuary, of pure gold; 
{I}21_{/}the floral work, 
the lamps, the 
extinguishers, of gold 
(and it was pure gold); 
{I}22_{/}the knives, the 
sprinkling bowls, incense 
boats, of fine gold; the 
door of the Temple, the 
inner doors (for the Holy 
of Holies) and the Temple 
doors (for the Hekal), of 
gold.
THE ARK IS BROUGHT TO THE 
TEMPLE{/}

{1}5{/}

{I}1_{/}So all the work 
that Solomon did for 
Yahweh's House was 
completed, and Solomon 
brought the dedicated 
offerings of his father 
David, the silver and the 
gold and the vessels, and 
put them in the Temple 
storerooms.
{I}2_{/}Then Solomon 
called the leaders of the 
tribes and clans of 
Israel together in 
Jerusalem to bring the 
ark of the covenant of 
Yahweh up from the City 
of David, which is Zion. 
{I}3_{/}All the men of 
Israel assembled around 
the king in the seventh 
month, at the time of the 
feast. {I}4_{/}All the 
leaders of Israel came, 
and the Levites took up 
the ark {I}5_{/}and the 
Tent of Meeting with all 
the sacred vessels that 
were in it; the levitical 
priests carried them.
{I}6_{/}King Solomon, and 
all the community of 
Israel gathered with him 
in front of the ark, 
sacrificed sheep and 
oxen, countless, 
innumerable. {I}7_{/}The 
priests brought the ark 
of the covenant of Yahweh 
to its place, in the 
place, in the sanctuary 
of the house, that is, in 
the Holy of Holies, under 
the cherubs' wings. 
{I}8_{/}For there where 
the ark was placed the 
cherubs spread out their 
wings and sheltered the 
ark and its poles. 
{I}9_{/}The poles of the 
ark were long enough for 
their ends to be seen 
from the Holy Place in 
front of the sanctuary, 
but not from outside; 
{I}10_{/}they are still 
there today. There was 
nothing in the ark except 
the two stone slabs that 
Moses had placed in it at 
Horeb, where Yahweh had 
made a covenant with the 
Israelites when they came 
out of Egypt.
{I}11_{/}Finally, the 
priests came out of the 
sanctuary. All the 
priests were present, for 
they had purified 
themselves whatever group 
they belonged to. 
{I}12_{/}All the Levite 
musicians, Asaph, Heman 
and Jeduthun with their 
sons and brothers, were 
stationed to the east of 
the altar, robed in fine 
linen and playing 
cymbals, harps, and 
lyres. A hundred and 
twenty priests 
accompanied them on the 
trumpet. {I}13_{/}All 
those who played the 
trumpet, or who sang, 
united in giving praise 
and glory to Yahweh. 
Lifting their voices to 
the sound of the trumpet 
and cymbal and 
instruments of music, 
they gave praise to 
Yahweh. "For he is good, 
for his love is 
everlasting." Just then a 
cloud filled the 
sanctuary, the building 
of Yahweh.
{I}14_{/}Because of the 
cloud the priests could 
no longer perform their 
duties: for the Glory of 
Yahweh filled the house 
of God.
{1}6{/}

{I}1_{/}Then Solomon 
said: "Yahweh has chosen 
to live in the thick 
cloud. Yes, I have built 
you a majestic temple, 
{I}2_{/}a place for you 
to live in forever."
{I}3_{/}Then the king 
turned and asked God's 
blessing on the whole 
assembly of Israel, who 
were standing there. 
{I}4_{/}He said, "Blessed 
be Yahweh, the God of 
Israel, who has spoken 
through the mouth of 
David, my father and has 
now carried out by his 
hand what he said: 
{I}5_{/}From the day I 
brought my people out of 
Egypt until now I did not 
choose any city in the 
land of Israel as the 
place to build a house 
where my Name would be, 
and I did not choose 
anyone to be prince of my 
people Israel. 
{I}6_{/}But now I have 
chosen Jerusalem as the 
place where my Name will 
be, and you, David, to 
rule my people.' 
{I}7_{/}My father David 
had set his heart on 
building a house for the 
Name of Yahweh, the God 
of Israel, {I}8_{/}but 
Yahweh said to him, 'You 
have set your heart on 
building a temple for my 
name, and in this you 
have done well; 
{I}9_{/}and yet, you are 
not the man to build the 
house; your son, born of 
your own body, shall 
build me a house.' 
{I}10_{/}Yahweh has kept 
the promise he made: I 
have succeeded David my 
father and am seated on 
the throne of Israel, as 
Yahweh promised; and now 
I have built a house for 
the Name of Yahweh, the 
God of Israel, 
{I}11_{/}and have placed 
in it the ark containing 
the covenant that Yahweh 
made with the people of 
Israel."
SOLOMON'S PRAYER{/}

{I}12_{/}Then in the 
presence of the whole 
assembly of Israel 
Solomon stood before the 
altar of Yahweh and 
stretched out his hands. 
{I}13_{/}Solomon had made 
a bronze pedestal and had 
placed it in the middle 
of the court; it was 7 
feet long, 7 feet wide 
and 7 feet high. Solomon 
mounted it, and knelt 
down on it in the 
presence of the whole 
assembly of Israel; he 
stretched out his hands 
to heaven. {I}14_{/}and 
said, "Yahweh, God of 
Israel, not in heaven nor 
on earth is there such a 
God as you; you are true 
to your covenant and show 
graciousness toward your 
servants when they live 
in wholehearted obedience 
to you. {I}15_{/}You have 
kept the promise you made 
to your servant David my 
father; what you promised 
with your mouth, today 
you have carried out by 
your hand. {I}16_{/}And 
now, Yahweh, God of 
Israel, keep the promise 
you made your servant 
David when you said, 'You 
shall always have someone 
from your line to rule as 
king of Israel, if only 
your sons are careful how 
they behave, following my 
Law as you yourself have 
done.'
{I}17_{/}So now, God of 
Israel, let the words 
come true which you spoke 
to your servant David my 
father. {I}18_{/}Yet will 
God really live with men 
and women on the earth? 
Why, the heavens and 
their own heavens cannot 
contain you! How much 
less this house that I 
have built! 
{I}19_{/}Listen to the 
prayer and grant the 
requests of your servant, 
Yahweh my God; listen to 
the cry and to the prayer 
your servant makes to 
you. {I}20_{/}Day and 
night let your eyes watch 
over this house, where 
you have promised that 
your Name would be.
{I}21_{/}Hear the prayers 
of your servant and of 
Israel your people as 
they pray in this place. 
From heaven where your 
dwelling is, hear; and, 
as you hear, forgive.
{I}22_{/}If anyone sins 
against his neighbour, 
and the neighbour calls 
down a curse on him and 
makes him swear an oath 
before your altar in this 
house, {I}23_{/}hear from 
heaven, and act; decide 
between your servants: 
punish the wicked one, 
bringing his conduct down 
on his own head; and 
vindicate the innocent, 
rewarding him as his 
innocence deserves.
{I}24_{/}If Israel your 
people are defeated by 
the enemy because they 
have sinned against you, 
but they return to you 
and praise your name and 
humbly pray to you for 
forgiveness, in this 
house, {I}25_{/}hear from 
heaven. Forgive the sin 
of your people Israel, 
and bring them back to 
the land you gave to them 
and to their ancestors.
{I}26_{/}When the heavens 
are shut and there is no 
rain because they have 
sinned against you, if 
they pray in this place 
and praise your name, 
having been humbled by 
you, and repent of their 
sin, {I}27_{/}hear from 
heaven and forgive the 
sin of your servant and 
of your people Israel. 
Teach them to do what is 
right; and send rain on 
your land which you have 
given your people as an 
inheritance.
{I}28_{/}Should there be 
famine in the land or 
epidemic or the crops are 
destroyed by scorching 
winds or swarms of 
locusts, should this 
people's enemies lay 
siege to one of their 
cities, if there is any 
plague or sickness, 
{I}29_{/}if any person, 
or all Israel your 
people, should, out of 
heartfelt sorrow, pray, 
stretching out his hands 
toward this house, 
{I}30_{/}hear from heaven 
where your home is. 
Forgive, and deal with 
each as his conduct 
deserves, for you know 
each heart - you alone 
know the hearts of all 
humankind - {I}31_{/}that 
they may come to you and 
follow your ways as long 
as they live in the land 
you gave to our 
ancestors.
{I}32_{/}And the 
foreigner too, not 
belonging to your people 
Israel, if he comes from 
a distant country for the 
sake of your Name and of 
your mighty hand and 
outstretched arm, if he 
comes and prays in this 
house, {I}33_{/}hear from 
heaven where your home 
is, and grant all the 
foreigner asks, so that 
all the peoples of the 
earth may come to know 
your name and, like your 
people Israel, revere 
you, and know that your 
Name dwells in this house 
I have built.
{I}34_{/}If your people 
go out to war against 
their enemies whatever 
way you send them, and if 
they turn toward the city 
you have chosen and 
toward the house I have 
built for your Name and 
pray to you, 
{I}35_{/}hear from heaven 
their prayer and give 
them victory.
{I}36_{/}If they sin 
against you - for there 
is no one who does not 
sin - and you are angry 
with them and deliver 
them to the enemy, and 
they are led away captive 
to a land far or near, 
{I}37_{/}if in the land 
of their exile they come 
to themselves and repent, 
and in the country of 
their captivity they pray 
to you saying, 'We have 
sinned, we confess how 
sinful and wicked we have 
been,' {I}38_{/}and if 
they turn again to you 
with all their heart and 
soul in the country of 
their captivity to which 
they have been deported, 
and pray, turning toward 
the land you gave their 
ancestors, toward the 
city you have chosen, and 
toward the house I have 
built for your name, 
{I}39_{/}hear from heaven 
where your home is. Hear 
their prayer, be merciful 
to them, and forgive your 
people the sins they have 
committed against you.
{I}40_{/}Now, O my God, 
may your eyes be open and 
your ears attentive to 
the prayer offered in 
this place. {I}41_{/}And 
now rise Yahweh God, come 
to your resting place, 
you and the ark of your 
power. Let your priests, 
Yahweh God, be blessed in 
all they do, and your 
faithful people rejoice 
in prosperity.
{I}42_{/}Yahweh God, do 
not reject the face of 
your anointed king and 
remember David your 
servant."
DEDICATION OF YAHWEH'S 
HOUSE{/}

{1}7{/}

{I}1_{/}When Solomon had 
finished his prayer, fire 
came down from heaven and 
burned up the sacrifices 
that had been offered; 
and the Glory of Yahweh 
filled the Temple. 
{I}2_{/}The priests could 
not enter the temple of 
Yahweh's House because 
the glory of Yahweh 
filled his house. 
{I}3_{/}All the people of 
Israel, seeing the fire 
come down and the Glory 
of God resting on the 
house, bowed down on the 
pavement with their faces 
to the earth; they 
worshiped and gave praise 
to Yahweh, "for he is 
good, for his love is 
everlasting." 
{I}4_{/}Then the king and 
all the people offered 
sacrifice before Yahweh. 
{I}5_{/}King Solomon 
offered twenty-two 
thousand oxen and a 
hundred and twenty 
thousand sheep in 
sacrifice; and so the 
king and all the people 
dedicated Yahweh's House. 
{I}6_{/}The priests stood 
in their places, and also 
the Levites who gave 
praise to Yahweh on the 
instruments that David 
had made to accompany the 
canticles of Yahweh, "for 
his love is everlasting." 
They played and sang the 
hymns of praise that 
David had composed. By 
their side were the 
priests sounding the 
trumpet, while all Israel 
stood.
{I}7_{/}Solomon 
consecrated the inside 
part of the court that is 
in front of Yahweh's 
House; he offered the 
burnt offering there and 
the fatty parts of the 
peace offerings since the 
bronze altar Solomon had 
made could not hold the 
burnt offering, the grain 
offering and the fatty 
part. {I}8_{/}Solomon 
then celebrated the feast 
for seven days. Enormous 
crowds of Israelites 
gathered together with 
him from the Pass of 
Hamath to the border of 
Egypt. {I}9_{/}On the 
eighth day they held a 
closing celebration, for 
they had been seven days 
celebrating the 
dedication of the altar. 
{I}10_{/}On the twenty-
third day of the seventh 
month Solomon dismissed 
the people who returned 
to their homes, rejoicing 
and with happy hearts for 
the goodness Yahweh had 
shown to David, to 
Solomon and to his people 
Israel.
{I}11_{/}Solomon finished 
Yahweh's House and the 
royal palace and 
successfully concluded 
all he had set himself to 
do in both of them. 
{I}12_{/}Then Yahweh 
appeared to Solomon in 
the night and said, "I 
have heard your prayer. I 
choose this house to be 
the place where 
sacrifices are to be 
offered to me. 
{I}13_{/}When I close the 
skies and there is no 
rain, when I command the 
locust to devour the 
land, when I send an 
epidemic among my people, 
{I}14_{/}and my people 
who bear my name humble 
themselves, and pray and 
look for me, and turn 
from their wicked ways 
then I myself will hear 
from heaven and forgive 
their sins and restore 
their land. {I}15_{/}From 
now on, my eyes are open 
and my ears attentive to 
the prayer that is 
offered in this place. 
{I}16_{/}From now on, I 
have chosen and 
consecrated this house as 
the place where my name 
will be forever; my eyes 
and my heart will be 
there forever.
{I}17_{/}For your part, 
if you serve me 
faithfully as David your 
father did, if you do all 
that I order you and keep 
my statutes and my 
ordinances, {I}18_{/}I 
will make your royal 
throne secure, according 
to the promise I made to 
David your father when I 
said: Israel will always 
be ruled by one of your 
descendants. {I}19_{/}But 
if you turn away from me 
and forsake the 
commandments and statutes 
I have set before you, 
and go and serve other 
gods and worship them, 
{I}20_{/}then I will cast 
the Israelites out from 
the land I have given 
them, and I will reject 
this house that I have 
consecrated as the place 
where my Name would be, 
so that it may be an 
example for all the 
nations. {I}21_{/}All 
those who pass by this 
place which is now so 
exalted, will be 
astounded; they will 
whistle and say, 'Why has 
Yahweh treated this 
country and this Temple 
like this?' {I}22_{/}And 
the answer will be, 
'Because they abandoned 
Yahweh, the God of their 
ancestors, who brought 
them out of the land of 
Egypt, and they adopted 
other gods, which they 
worshiped and served; 
that is why he has 
brought all these 
disasters on them.'"
SOLOMON'S WORKS{/}

{1}8{/}

{I}1_{/}Solomon spent 
twenty years in building 
Yahweh's House and his 
own palace. {I}2_{/}Then 
he rebuilt the towns that 
Huram had given him and 
settled Israelites in 
them. {I}3_{/}He went 
against Hamath of Zobah 
and conquered it: 
{I}4_{/}he built Tadmor 
in the wilderness and all 
the storing towns which 
he built in Hamath. 
{I}5_{/}He rebuilt Upper 
beth-horon and Lower 
Beth-horon, fortified 
towns with walls and 
gates and bars, 
{I}6_{/}also Baalath and 
all the storing towns 
owned by Solomon, all the 
towns for his chariots 
and horses, and all it 
pleased Solomon to build 
in Jerusalem, in Lebanon 
and in all the countries 
subject to him. 
{I}7_{/}Solomon employed 
for forced labor all 
those who remained of the 
Hittite, Amorite, 
Perizzite, Hivite and 
Jebusite peoples, that is 
the non-Israelites 
{I}8_{/}whose descendants 
were left in the country 
and had not been killed 
by the Israelites. Their 
descendants continue to 
be slaves down to the 
present time. 
{I}9_{/}Upon the 
Israelites, however, 
Solomon did not impose 
slave labor; these served 
as fighting men; they 
were officers of his 
chariots and commanders 
of horsemen. 
{I}10_{/}Solomon 
appointed two hundred and 
fifty overseers to make 
all these people work.
{I}11_{/}Solomon brought 
Pharaoh's daughter from 
the City of David up to 
the house he had built 
for her. For he said, "I 
can't let a woman live in 
the palace of David king 
of Israel; these are holy 
places where the ark of 
Yahweh has been."
{I}12_{/}Solomon then 
offered burnt offerings 
to Yahweh on Yahweh's 
altar which he had built 
in front of the porch. 
{I}13_{/}Observing the 
daily rule for burnt 
offerings according to 
the requirements of Moses 
for sabbaths, New Moon 
and the three annual 
feasts: the feast of 
Unleavened Bread, the 
feast of Weeks and the 
feast of Tabernacles. 
{I}14_{/}He established 
the priestly orders in 
their duties according to 
the regulations of his 
father David. He also 
enforced the rules 
affecting the Levites who 
offered praise and served 
with the priests 
according to the daily 
ritual, and the different 
orders of gatekeepers at 
each gate, for such had 
been the commandments of 
David, the man of God. 
{I}15_{/}They did not 
change anything of the 
royal ordinances applying 
to the priests and the 
Levites, not even in the 
matter of treasurership. 
{I}16_{/}In this way all 
of Solomon's work was 
completed from the day 
when the foundations of 
Yahweh's House were laid, 
until the end - and so... 
Yahweh's House was 
finished.
{I}17_{/}Then Solomon 
went as far as Eziongeber 
and Elath on the shores 
of the sea, in the land 
of Edom. {I}18_{/}Huram 
sent him ships manned by 
his own men, who were 
experienced sailors. 
These men went with 
Solomon's men to Ophir 
and from there they 
brought back almost 
sixteen tons of gold, 
which they delivered to 
King Solomon.
THE QUEEN OF SHEBA{/}

{1}9{/}

{I}1_{/}The fame of 
Solomon having reached 
the queen of Sheba, she 
came to Jerusalem to test 
him with difficult 
questions. She came with 
immense riches, camels 
loaded with spices, great 
quantities of gold and 
precious stones. On 
coming to Solomon, she 
asked him all the 
questions that she had in 
mind, {I}2_{/}and Solomon 
had an answer for all her 
questions, not one was 
too difficult for him to 
explain. {I}3_{/}When the 
queen of Sheba saw the 
wisdom of Solomon, the 
palace he had built, 
{I}4_{/}the food at his 
table, the accommodations 
for his officials, the 
organization of his staff 
and the way they were 
dressed, his cupbearers 
and the burnt offerings 
he offered in the Temple 
of Yahweh, it left her 
breathless; {I}5_{/}and 
she said to the king, 
"What I heard in my own 
country about you and 
your wisdom was true, 
then! {I}6_{/}I could not 
believe what they told me 
was not even half of your 
wisdom for the reality 
surpasses what I heard. 
{I}7_{/}How happy your 
wives are! How happy 
these servants of yours 
who wait on you always 
and hear your wisdom! 
{I}8_{/}Blessed be Yahweh 
your God who loves you 
and made you king to rule 
in his name. Because your 
God loves Israel and 
wants to preserve them 
forever, he has made you 
their king to administer 
law and justice."
{I}9_{/}And the queen of 
Sheba gave King Solomon 
almost five tons of gold 
and great quantities of 
spices and precious 
stones. There never were 
spices like those the 
queen of Sheba gave to 
King Solomon. 
{I}10_{/}Similarly the 
servants of Huram and the 
servants of Solomon, who 
carried gold from Ophir, 
brought algummim wood and 
precious stones. 
{I}11_{/}Of the algummim 
wood the king made 
floorboards for Yahweh's 
House and for the royal 
palace, and lyres and 
harps for the musicians; 
nothing like them had 
ever been seen before in 
the land of Judah. 
{I}12_{/}And King 
Solomon, in his turn, 
gave the queen of Sheba 
everything she expressed 
any wish for, besides 
returning what she had 
brought to the king. Then 
she went home, she and 
her servants, to her own 
country.
{I}13_{/}The weight of 
gold coming to Solomon in 
one year was over twenty-
five tons, {I}14_{/}not 
counting the taxes paid 
by the traders and 
merchants; all the kings 
of Arabia and the 
governors of the country 
also brought gold and 
silver to Solomon. 
{I}15_{/}King Solomon 
made two hundred great 
shields of beaten gold, 
and plated each shield 
with about fifteen pounds 
of gold, {I}16_{/}and 
also three hundred small 
shields of beaten gold, 
and plated each of these 
with about eight pounds 
of gold; and he put them 
in the Hall of the Forest 
of Lebanon. {I}17_{/}The 
king also made a great 
ivory throne and plated 
it with purest gold. 
{I}18_{/}The throne had 
six steps, with a 
platform behind and arms 
at either side of the 
seat; two lions stood 
beside the arms, 
{I}19_{/}and twelve lions 
stood on either side of 
the six steps. No throne 
like this was ever made 
in any other kingdom. 
{I}20_{/}All King 
Solomon's drinking 
vessels were of gold, and 
all the furnishings in 
the Hall of the Forest of 
Lebanon were of pure 
gold; silver was not 
considered valuable in 
the time of Solomon. 
{I}21_{/}And the king 
also had ships that went 
to Tarshish with Huram's 
men, and once every three 
years the ships of 
Tarshish would come back 
bringing gold and silver, 
ivory, apes and baboons. 
{I}22_{/}King Solomon was 
richer and wiser than any 
other king in the world. 
{I}23_{/}All the kings of 
the earth consulted 
Solomon to hear the 
wisdom God had given him, 
{I}24_{/}and each would 
bring his own present: 
gold vessels, silver 
vessels, robes, armor, 
spices, horses and mules; 
and this went on year 
after year.
{I}25_{/}Solomon had four 
thousand stalls for his 
horses and chariots, and 
twelve thousand horses; 
these were stationed in 
the chariot towns and 
near the king in 
Jerusalem. 
{I}26_{/}Solomon extended 
his power over all the 
kingdoms from the river 
to the land of the 
Philistines and the 
Egyptian border. 
{I}27_{/}In Jerusalem the 
king made silver as 
common as stone, and 
cedars as plentiful as 
the sycamores of the 
Lowlands. {I}28_{/}Horses 
were imported for Solomon 
from Cilicia and all the 
other countries too.
{I}29_{/}The rest of the 
history of Solomon, from 
first to last, is 
recorded in the History 
of Nathan the prophet, in 
the Prophecy of Ahijah of 
Shiloh, and in the Vision 
of Iddo, the seer 
concerning Jeroboam son 
of Nebat. 
{I}30_{/}Solomon reigned 
in Jerusalem over all 
Israel for forty years. 
{I}31_{/}Then Solomon 
rested with his fathers 
and was buried in the 
City of David his father; 
his son Rehoboam 
succeeded him.
THE DIVISION OF THE 
KINGDOM{/}

{1}10{/}

{I}1_{/}Rehoboam went to 
Shechem where all the 
people of northern Israel 
had gone to proclaim him 
king. {I}2_{/}As soon as 
Jeroboam son of Nebat 
heard the news - he was 
still in Egypt where he 
had gone to escape from 
king Solomon - he 
returned from Egypt. 
{I}3_{/}The people of the 
northern tribes sent for 
him, and he came with the 
whole assembly.
And they said this to 
Rehoboam, {I}4_{/}"Your 
father placed heavy 
burdens on us. If you 
make these burdens 
lighter for us, we will 
serve you." {I}5_{/}He 
said, "Come back to me in 
three days." And the 
people went away.
{I}6_{/}King Rehoboam 
consulted the older men 
who had served as 
advisers to his father 
Solomon and asked them, 
"What reply do you advise 
me to give to this 
people?" {I}7_{/}They 
said, "If you are kind to 
these people and listen 
to them and treat them 
fairly, then they will 
serve you forever." 
{I}8_{/}But he rejected 
the advice given him by 
the elders and consulted 
the bloody young men who 
had grown up with him. 
{I}9_{/}He asked, "How do 
you advise us to answer 
these people who have 
said to me, 'Lighten the 
burden your father put on 
us'?" {I}10_{/}The bloody 
young men who had grown 
up with him replied, 
"Give this answer to 
these people who have 
said, 'Your father gave 
us a heavy burden to 
bear, you must lighten it 
for us.' Say this to 
them, 'My little finger 
is thicker than my 
father's waist! 
{I}11_{/}My father made 
you bear a heavy burden, 
but I will make it 
heavier still! My father 
beat you with whips; I am 
going to beat you with 
bullwhips!"
{I}12_{/}Jeroboam with 
all the people came to 
Rehoboam on the third day 
according to what the 
king had said, "Come back 
to me on the third day." 
{I}13_{/}King Rehoboam, 
rejecting the advice of 
the elders, gave them a 
harsh answer {I}14_{/}and 
spoke to them as the 
bloody young men had 
recommended, "My father 
made you bear a heavy 
burden, but I will make 
it heavier still. My 
father beat you with 
whips; I am going to beat 
you with bullwhips!" 
{I}15_{/}The king in fact 
paid no attention to the 
people's wishes, and this 
was brought about by God 
to carry out what Yahweh 
had spoken through Ahijah 
of Shiloh to Jeroboam son 
of Nebat. {I}16_{/}When 
all Israel saw that the 
king paid no attention to 
their wishes, they gave 
him this answer: "Down 
with David and his 
descendants! What have 
they ever done for us? To 
your tents, men of 
Israel; let's go home. 
From now on let Rehoboam 
look out for himself!" 
{I}17_{/}So the people of 
Israel rebelled and 
Rehoboam was left with 
those people of Israel 
who lived in the towns of 
Judah. {I}18_{/}King 
Rehoboam sent Adoram who 
was in charge of forced 
labor, but the Israelites 
stoned him to death; 
{I}19_{/}whereupon King 
Rehoboam was obliged to 
mount his chariot and 
escape to Jerusalem. And 
the people of Israel have 
been in rebellion against 
the family of David until 
the present day.
{1}11{/}

{I}1_{/}Rehoboam went to 
Jerusalem and called 
together the tribes of 
Judah and Benjamin, a 
hundred and eighty 
thousand selected 
warriors, to fight the 
northern tribes of Israel 
and win back the kingdom 
of Rehoboam. {I}2_{/}But 
the word of Yahweh came 
to the prophet Shemaiah, 
{I}3_{/}"Say this to 
Rehoboam son of Solomon, 
king of Judah, and to all 
the Israelites in Judah 
and Benjamin, 'Yahweh 
says this: {I}4_{/}Do not 
attack your fellow 
Israelites; let everyone 
go home, for what has 
happened is my doing." 
{I}5_{/}They obeyed 
Yahweh's command and went 
back, instead of fighting 
against Jeroboam. 
REHOBOAM{/}

Rehoboam lived in 
Jerusalem and built 
fortified towns in Judah. 
{I}6_{/}He rebuilt 
Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 
{I}7_{/}Bethzur, Soco, 
Adullam, {I}8_{/}Gath, 
Mareshah, Ziph, 
{I}9_{/}Adoraim, Lachish, 
Azekah, {I}10_{/}Zorah, 
Aijalon, Hebron; these 
were fortified towns in 
Judah and Benjamin. 
{I}11_{/}He fortified 
them with walls and put 
commanders in them with 
stores of food, oil and 
wine. {I}12_{/}In each of 
these towns were shields 
and spears. He made them 
very strong to keep Judah 
and Benjamin under 
control.
{I}13_{/}From all the 
territory of Israel, 
priests and Levites came 
south to Judah. 
{I}14_{/}The Levites, 
indeed, abandoned their 
pasture lands and their 
holdings, and came to 
Judah and Jerusalem, 
since Jeroboam and his 
sons did not recognize 
them as the only priests 
of Yahweh {I}15_{/}and 
had appointed priests of 
his own to serve at the 
High places to worship 
the goats and the 
bullcalves he had made. 
{I}16_{/}Members of all 
the tribes of Israel, 
people who sincerely 
wanted to worship Yahweh 
the God of Israel, 
followed them and came to 
Jerusalem to sacrifice to 
Yahweh, the God of their 
ancestors. {I}17_{/}These 
Israelites added strength 
to the kingdom of Judah, 
and gave their support to 
Rehoboam son of Solomon 
for three years, because 
during three years he 
followed the example of 
David and Solomon.
{I}18_{/}Rehoboam took as 
wife Mahalath the 
daughter of Jerimoth, son 
of David and of Abihail, 
daughter of Eliab, son of 
Jesse. {I}19_{/}She bore 
him sons: Jeush, 
Shemariah and Zaham. 
{I}20_{/}After her, he 
married Maacah daughter 
of Absalom, who bore him 
Abijah, Attai, Ziza and 
Shelomith. 
{I}21_{/}Rehoboam loved 
Maacah, daughter of 
Absalom, more than all 
his other wives and 
concubines. He had in 
fact a total of eighteen 
wives and sixty 
concubines, twenty-eight 
sons and sixty daughters. 
{I}22_{/}Rehoboam favored 
Abijah, Maacah's son over 
all his other children, 
choosing him as the one 
to succeed him as king. 
{I}23_{/}Rehoboam ruled 
prudently by scattering 
his sons throughout Judah 
and Benjamin in the 
fortified towns, where he 
provided them with 
generous provisions and 
many wives. 
{1}12{/}

{I}1_{/}As soon as 
Rehoboam had established 
his authority as king and 
had become powerful, he 
and all his people 
abandoned the Law of 
Yahweh. {I}2_{/}In the 
fifth year of Rehoboam, 
Shishak the king of Egypt 
attacked Jerusalem, since 
it had been unfaithful to 
Yahweh. {I}3_{/}With 
twelve hundred chariots 
and sixty thousand horses 
and countless army of 
Libyans, Sukkiim and 
Ethiopians who came from 
Egypt with him, 
{I}4_{/}he captured the 
fortified towns of Judah 
and reached Jerusalem. 
Rehoboam and the Judaean 
captains, at the advance 
of Shishak, had gathered 
near Jerusalem; 
{I}5_{/}to them came 
Shemaiah the prophet and 
he said, "Yahweh says 
this: as you have 
abandoned me, now I have 
abandoned you into the 
hands of Shishak. 
{I}6_{/}Then the 
Israelite captains and 
the king humbled 
themselves and said, 
"Yahweh is just!" 
{I}7_{/}When Yahweh saw 
that they had humbled 
themselves, the word of 
Yahweh came to Shemaiah. 
"They have humbled 
themselves; because of 
this I will not destroy 
them. In a little while I 
will grant them 
deliverance; my anger 
shall not fall on 
Jerusalem through the 
power of Shishak. 
{I}8_{/}Nevertheless they 
shall become his slaves, 
so that they may come to 
understand the difference 
between serving me and 
serving the kings of 
foreign countries."
{I}9_{/}Shishak the king 
of Egypt attacked 
Jerusalem and took all 
the treasures from the 
Temple of Yahweh and from 
the royal palace. He took 
everything, including the 
golden shields that 
Solomon had made; 
{I}10_{/}in place of them 
King Rehoboam had bronze 
shields made, entrusting 
them to the care of the 
officers of the guard who 
guarded the king's palace 
gate. {I}11_{/}Whenever 
the king went to the 
Temple of Yahweh, the 
guards would come out 
carrying them, and return 
them to the guardroom 
afterward. {I}12_{/}Since 
he had submitted to 
Yahweh, the anger of 
Yahweh did not completely 
destroy him. There was 
still something good in 
Judah.
{I}13_{/}King Rehoboam 
was able to strengthen 
his position in Jerusalem 
and to govern. Now 
Rehoboam was forty-one 
years old when he became 
king and he reigned for 
seventeen years in 
Jerusalem, the city 
chosen by Yahweh out of 
all the tribes of Israel, 
as the place where his 
Name would be. Rehoboam's 
mother was Naamah, the 
Ammonitess. {I}14_{/}He 
did evil, because he had 
not set his heart on 
seeking Yahweh.
{I}15_{/}The history of 
Rehoboam, from first to 
last, is all recorded in 
the Annals of Shemaiah 
the prophet and of Iddo 
the seer. There was 
constant warfare between 
Rehoboam and Jeroboam. 
{I}16_{/}Then Rehoboam 
rested with his fathers 
and was buried in the 
City of David; his son 
Abijah succeeded him.
ABIJAH{/}

{1}13{/}

{I}1_{/}In the eighteenth 
year of King Jeroboam, 
Abijah became king of 
Judah {I}2_{/}and reigned 
for three years in 
Jerusalem. His mother was 
Micaiah, daughter of 
Uriel, from Giveah. 
Abijah and Jeroboam were 
at war. {I}3_{/}Abijah 
went into battle with an 
army of brave fighters, 
four hundred thousand 
picked men, while 
Jeroboam drew up his 
battle line against him 
with eight hundred 
thousand picked men, 
brave soldiers.
{I}4_{/}Abijah went up 
Mount Zemaraim, in the 
hill country of Ephraim, 
and cried, "Jeroboam and 
all Israel, listen to me! 
{I}5_{/}Do you know that 
Yahweh the God of Israel 
has given the kingship of 
Israel to David forever? 
It is an unbreakable 
covenant for him and for 
his sons. {I}6_{/}Yet 
Jeroboam son of Nebat, a 
servant of Solomon son of 
David, has rebelled 
against his king; 
{I}7_{/}worthless men, 
scoundrels, have rallied 
to him and opposed 
Rehoboam, the son of 
Solomon. Rehoboam, then a 
young man and timid, was 
unable to resist them. 
{I}8_{/}Now you propose 
to subdue the Kingdom of 
Yahweh that he gave to 
David's descendants. You 
stand here with a huge 
army, but you are 
bringing the golden 
calves that Jeroboam made 
you for gods! 
{I}9_{/}Have you not 
driven out the priests of 
Yahweh, the sons of Aaron 
and the Levites, to make 
priests of your own like 
the peoples of foreign 
countries? Anyone who 
comes with a bull and 
seven rams can ask to be 
consecrated and become 
priest of what is no god 
at all! {I}10_{/}As for 
us, our God is Yahweh, 
and we have not abandoned 
him: the sons of Aaron 
minister to Yahweh, and 
the Levites as well. 
{I}11_{/}Every morning, 
every evening, we burn 
burnt offerings to Yahweh 
our God, we have the 
incense of sweet spices, 
the loaves set out in 
rows on the pure table, 
the golden lampstand with 
its lamps that burn each 
evening; for we observe 
the ritual of Yahweh our 
God, that you have 
abandoned. {I}12_{/}See 
how God is with us, at 
our head; see his priests 
with the trumpets, which 
they will sound against 
you. People of Israel, do 
not fight against Yahweh, 
the God of our ancestors, 
for you will not 
succeed."
{I}13_{/}Jeroboam 
outflanked the Judaeans 
by setting an ambush 
behind them; the Judaeans 
were facing the 
Israelites with the 
ambush at their rear. 
{I}14_{/}The Judaeans, 
turning about, found 
themselves attacked from 
the front and the rear. 
They called on Yahweh and 
while the priests sounded 
the trumpets, 
{I}15_{/}the men of Judah 
raised the war cry. And 
as they raised the war 
cry, God scattered 
Jeroboam and all Israel 
before Abijah and the 
people of Judah. 
{I}16_{/}The Israelites 
fled before Judah and God 
delivered them into the 
power of the Judaeans. 
{I}17_{/}Abijah and his 
army inflicted a crushing 
defeat on them: five 
hundred thousand of 
Israel's chosen men were 
killed. {I}18_{/}And so 
the people of Israel were 
humbled and the people of 
Judah were victorious 
because they relied on 
Yahweh, the God of their 
ancestors.
{I}19_{/}Abijah pursued 
Jeroboam's army and 
captured towns from him: 
Bethel with its outlying 
villages, Jeshanah with 
its outlying villages and 
Ephron with its outlying 
villages. {I}20_{/}So in 
the lifetime of Abijah, 
Jeroboam could no longer 
maintain his power. 
Yahweh struck him down, 
and he died. {I}21_{/}But 
Abijah grew in strength; 
he took fourteen wives 
and had twenty-two sons 
and sixteen daughters. 
{I}22_{/}The rest of the 
history of Abijah, his 
conduct and his deeds, is 
not all this recorded in 
the commentary of the 
prophet Iddo? Then Abijah 
rested with his fathers 
and they buried him in 
the City of David; his 
son Asa succeeded him.
In his time the country 
was at peace for ten 
years.
ASA{/}

{1}14{/}

{I}1_{/}Asa did what is 
good and right in the 
eyes of Yahweh. 
{I}2_{/}He removed the 
altars of foreign worship 
and the High places. He 
broke down the sacred 
stones and cut down the 
Asherah's trunks. 
{I}3_{/}He commanded the 
people of Judah to do the 
will of Yahweh, the God 
of their ancestors, and 
to observe the Law and 
its commands. {I}4_{/}He 
removed the High places 
and the altars of incense 
in every town of Judah. 
The kingdom was at peace 
under his rule. 
{I}5_{/}He rebuilt the 
fortified towns of Judah, 
since the country was at 
peace, and there was no 
war during those years, 
for Yahweh granted him 
peace.
{I}6_{/}He told the 
people of Judah, "Let us 
rebuild these towns and 
surround them with walls 
and towers, with gates 
and bars while we have 
control of this land, 
since we have done the 
will of Yahweh our God; 
and he has protected us 
and given us peace on 
every side."
{I}7_{/}They built and 
prospered. Asa had an 
army of three hundred 
thousand Judaeans armed 
with buckler and spear, 
and two hundred eighty 
thousand Benjaminites 
bearing shield and 
wielding the bow, all of 
them brave, well-trained 
men.
{I}8_{/}Zerah the 
Cushite, with an army one 
million strong and three 
hundred chariots, made an 
incursion which reached 
to Mareshah. {I}9_{/}Asa 
marched against him and 
drew up his battle line 
in the Valley of 
Zephathah, at Mareshah. 
{I}10_{/}He called on 
Yahweh, his God, "Yahweh, 
no one but you can stand 
up for the powerless 
against the powerful. 
Come to our help, Yahweh 
our God! We rely on you, 
and fight against this 
huge army in your name. 
Yahweh, you are our God. 
Let no one defeat you."
{I}11_{/}Yahweh defeated 
the Cushites when Asa and 
the Judaean army attacked 
them. The Cushites fled, 
{I}12_{/}and Asa pursued 
them with his army as far 
as Gerar. The Cushites 
fell even to the last for 
they had been overpowered 
by Yahweh and his camp. 
They collected great 
amounts of loot. 
{I}13_{/}They conquered 
all the towns in the area 
of Gerar, for the terror 
of Yahweh had fallen on 
these towns and they 
plundered them all since 
they were full of loot. 
{I}14_{/}They also 
attacked the camps of 
some shepherds and 
carried off great numbers 
of sheep and camels; then 
they returned to 
Jerusalem.
{1}15{/}

{I}1_{/}The spirit of God 
came on Azariah, son of 
Obed; {I}2_{/}he went out 
to meet Asa and said, 
"Listen to me, Asa, and 
all you of Judah and of 
Benjamin. Yahweh is with 
you so long as you are 
with him. When you look 
for him, he lets you find 
him; when you turn away, 
he will abandon you. 
{I}3_{/}For a long time 
Israel will be without 
the true God, and without 
priest to teach the Law, 
{I}4_{/}but when trouble 
comes, they will turn to 
Yahweh, the God of 
Israel. They will look 
for him and find him. 
{I}5_{/}When that time 
comes, there will be no 
peace for anyone, for 
many troubles will come 
upon all the inhabitants 
of the earth. {I}6_{/}One 
nation will oppress 
another nation, and one 
city another city, 
because God will bring 
trouble and distress on 
them. {I}7_{/}But for 
your part, take courage, 
and be strong, for your 
deeds will be rewarded." 
{I}8_{/}When Asa heard 
these words and this 
prophecy, he was 
encouraged to do away 
with all the idols 
throughout the land of 
Judah and Benjamin, and 
in the towns he had 
captured in the highlands 
of Ephraim; he then 
repaired the altar of 
Yahweh that stood in 
front of the Hall of 
Yahweh. {I}9_{/}He 
gathered all Judah and 
Benjamin together, and 
also the Ephraimites, 
Manassites and Simeonites 
who had settled with 
them, since great numbers 
of Israelites had gone 
over to Asa's side when 
they saw that Yahweh was 
with him. {I}10_{/}In the 
third month of the 
fifteenth year of Asa 
they assembled in 
Jerusalem; {I}11_{/}and 
they sacrificed to Yahweh 
that day seven hundred 
oxen and seven thousand 
sheep out of the spoil 
they had brought back. 
{I}12_{/}They made a 
covenant in which they 
agreed to seek Yahweh, 
the God of their 
ancestors, with all their 
heart and soul; 
{I}13_{/}anyone who would 
not seek Yahweh the God 
of Israel was to be put 
to death, young or old, 
man or woman. 
{I}14_{/}They pledged 
their oath to Yahweh 
aloud with shouts to the 
sound of trumpet and 
horn; {I}15_{/}all Judah 
rejoiced at the oath they 
had wholeheartedly taken. 
They sought Yahweh so 
earnestly that he let 
them find him, and 
granted them peace on 
every side.
{I}16_{/}King Asa took 
from his grandmother 
Maacah her title of queen 
mother, because she had 
made a hideous idol 
Asherah. Asa cut down the 
idol, and burned it in 
the wadi Kidron. Though 
the High places were not 
abolished in Israel, the 
heart of Asa was 
blameless all his life. 
He deposited the 
offerings dedicated by 
his father and his own 
offerings too, in the 
house of God, silver and 
gold and furnishings.
{1}16{/}

{I}1_{/}Up to the thirty-
fifth year of Asa's reign 
there was no war. In the 
thirty-sixth year of 
Asa's reign, Baasha king 
of Israel invaded Judah 
and fortified Ramah to 
blockade Asa king of 
Judah. {I}2_{/}Asa then 
took the silver and gold 
from the treasuries of 
Yahweh's House and the 
royal palace, and sent it 
with the following 
message to Ben-hadad king 
of Aram who lived in 
Damascus, {I}3_{/}"Let 
there be a covenant 
between myself and you, 
as between my father and 
your father! With this I 
send you silver and gold. 
Come, break off your 
alliance with Baasah king 
of Israel, so that he 
goes away from me. 
{I}4_{/}Ben-hadad agreed, 
and sent his generals 
against the towns of 
Israel; he conquered 
Ijon, Dan, Abelmaim and 
all the garrison towns of 
Naphtali. {I}5_{/}When 
Baasha heard this he 
stopped fortifying Ramah, 
abandoning this work. 
{I}6_{/}King Asa then 
brought all the people of 
Judah, who took away the 
stones and timber with 
which Baasah had been 
fortifying Ramah, and the 
king used them to fortify 
Geba and Mizpah.
{I}7_{/}It was then that 
Hanani, the prophet, came 
to Asa king of Judah and 
said, "Since you have 
relied on the king of 
Aram and not on Yahweh 
your God, the army of the 
king of Aram will escape 
from you. {I}8_{/}Did not 
the Cushites and Libyans 
form a vast army with 
great numbers of chariots 
and horses? And were they 
not delivered into your 
power because you relied 
on Yahweh? {I}9_{/}Yahweh 
keeps close watch over 
the whole world to give 
strength to those who are 
devoted to him 
wholeheartedly. You have 
acted foolishly in this 
matter, for from now on 
you will have wars."
{I}10_{/}Asa was very 
angry with the prophet 
and had him put in chains 
in prison, for he was 
angry because of these 
words. At the same time 
Asa treated some others 
harshly too.
{I}11_{/}The history of 
Asa, from first to last, 
is recorded in the Book 
of the Kings of Judah and 
Israel. {I}12_{/}A 
disease attacked Asa from 
head to foot in the 
thirty-ninth year of his 
reign; and, what is more, 
he turned in his 
sickness, not to Yahweh, 
but to doctors. 
{I}13_{/}Then Asa rested 
with his fathers in the 
forty-first year of his 
reign. They buried him in 
the tomb he had ordered 
to be dug for himself in 
the City of David. They 
laid him on a couch 
entirely covered with 
spices and varied 
ointments, products of 
the perfumer's skill, and 
lit a huge fire for him.
JEHOSHAPHAT{/}

{1}17{/}

{I}1_{/}His son 
Jehoshaphat succeeded him 
and strengthened his 
position against Israel. 
{I}2_{/}He put troops in 
all the fortified towns 
in Judah, and appointed 
governors in the land of 
Judah and in all the 
towns of Ephraim captured 
by his father Asa.
{I}3_{/}Yahweh blessed 
Jehoshaphat because he 
followed the example of 
David his father and did 
not worship Baal; 
{I}4_{/}he served the God 
of his father, following 
his commandments and not 
following the example of 
Israel. {I}5_{/}So Yahweh 
made the kingship secure 
in his hands; all the 
people of Judah brought 
gifts to Jehoshaphat, and 
ample riches and honor 
were his. {I}6_{/}He took 
pride in serving Yahweh 
and destroyed all the 
High places and Asherah's 
trunks in Judah. 
{I}7_{/}In the third year 
of his reign he sent his 
officers: Benhail, 
Obadiah, Zechariah, 
Nethanel and Micaiah, to 
give instruction in the 
towns of Judah. 
{I}8_{/}With them went 
the Levites: Shemaiah, 
Nethaniah, Zebadiah, 
Asaherel, Shemiramoth, 
Jehonathan, Adonijah and 
Tobijah, the Levites, 
together with the 
priests, Elishama and 
Jehoram. {I}9_{/}They 
gave instruction in 
Judah, having with them 
the book of the Law of 
Yahweh, and went around 
all the towns of Judah 
instructing the people.
{I}10_{/}The fear of 
Yahweh came upon all the 
kingdoms surrounding 
Judah, so that they did 
not war against 
Jehoshaphat. 
{I}11_{/}Some of the 
Philistines brought him 
gifts and silver in 
tribute; the Arabs 
themselves brought him, 
in small stock, seven 
thousand seven hundred 
rams and seven thousand 
seven hundred he-goats. 
{I}12_{/}Jehoshaphat 
became more and more 
powerful. Throughout 
Judah he built fortresses 
and towns with storage 
places.
{I}13_{/}He had many 
workers in the towns of 
Judah and a garrison of 
outstanding officers in 
Jerusalem. {I}14_{/}This 
was their disposition by 
families: for Judah, 
commanders of thousands; 
Adnah, the commanding 
officer, with three 
hundred thousand 
outstanding officers 
under his command, 
{I}15_{/}Jehohanan with 
two hundred and eighty 
thousand; 
{I}16_{/}Amasiah son of 
Zichri, who had 
volunteered for Yahweh's 
service, with two hundred 
thousand valiant 
warriors.
{I}17_{/}From Benjamin: 
the valiant warrior 
Eliada with two hundred 
thousand, armed with bow 
and shield: 
{I}18_{/}under his 
command, Jehozabad with a 
hundred and eighty 
thousand equipped for 
war.
{I}19_{/}These were the 
men who served the king, 
not counting those the 
king had put in the 
fortified towns 
throughout Judah.
JEHOSHAPHAT AND AHAB{/}

{1}18{/}

{I}1_{/}Jehoshaphat, 
then, enjoyed great 
wealth and honor and 
allied himself by 
marriage to Ahab. 
{I}2_{/}After some years 
he went to visit Ahab in 
Samaria. Ahab slaughtered 
for him and for his 
retinue great numbers of 
sheep and oxen; then 
urged him to attack 
Ramoth-gilead. 
{I}3_{/}And he asked 
Jehoshaphat, "Will you 
come with me to Ramoth-
gilead?" Jehoshaphat 
answered the king of 
Israel, "I am with you, 
my men are yours, and we 
will fight together."
{I}4_{/}Jehoshaphat, 
however, said to the king 
of Israel, "First, please 
consult the word of 
Yahweh." {I}5_{/}So the 
king of Israel called the 
prophets who were four 
hundred men, and asked 
them, "Should we march to 
attack Ramoth-gilead, or 
should I refrain?" They 
replied, "Go, because 
Yahweh will deliver it 
into your power." 
{I}6_{/}But Jehoshaphat 
said, "Is there no other 
prophet of Yahweh here 
for us to consult?" 
{I}7_{/}The king of 
Israel answered, "There 
is one more man through 
whom we can consult 
Yahweh, but I hate him 
because he never tells me 
good things but only 
discouraging words. He is 
Micaiah son of Imlah." 
Jehoshaphat said, "The 
king should not say such 
things." 
{I}8_{/}Accordingly the 
king of Israel summoned 
one of his officials and 
said, "Bring Micaiah son 
of Imlah immediately."
{I}9_{/}The king of 
Israel and Jehoshaphat 
king of Judah were both 
sitting on their thrones 
in royal garments; they 
sat at the threshing-
floor outside the gate of 
Samaria, with all the 
prophets raving in front 
of them. 
{I}10_{/}Zedekiah son of 
Chenaanah had made 
himself iron horns and 
said, "Yahweh says this: 
You will gore the 
Arameans till you make an 
end of them." 
{I}11_{/}And all the 
prophets prophesied the 
same saying, "March to 
Ramoth-gilead, for you 
will succeed. Yahweh will 
deliver it into the power 
of the king."
{I}12_{/}In the meantime 
the messenger who had 
gone to summon Micaiah 
said to him, "All the 
prophets as one man are 
foretelling victory to 
the king. Try to speak 
like one of them and 
foretell success." 
{I}13_{/}But Micaiah 
answered, "As Yahweh 
lives, what my God says, 
that will I utter!" 
{I}14_{/}When he came to 
the king, the king asked 
him, "Micaiah, should we 
go to attack Ramoth-
gilead, or should I 
refrain?" He answered, 
"Go and you will succeed. 
They will be delivered 
into your power." 
{I}15_{/}But the king 
said, "How often must I 
beg you to tell me 
nothing but the truth in 
the name of Yahweh?" 
{I}16_{/}Then Micaiah 
said, "I have seen all 
Israel scattered on the 
mountains like sheep 
without a shepherd. And 
Yahweh said, 'These have 
no master, let each one 
go home in peace.' "
{I}17_{/}At this the king 
of Israel said to 
Jehoshaphat, "Did I not 
tell you that he never 
foretells me good things, 
but only what is 
discouraging?" 
{I}18_{/}Micaiah went on. 
"Listen to the word of 
Yahweh. I have seen 
Yahweh seated on his 
throne; all the array of 
heaven stood to his right 
and to his left. 
{I}19_{/}Yahweh said, 
'Who will trick Ahab king 
of Israel so that he goes 
and falls at Ramoth-
gilead?' At which some 
answered one way, and 
some another. 
{I}20_{/}Then a spirit 
stepped forward, 
approached Yahweh and 
said, 'I will trick him.' 
Yahweh asked, 'How?' 
{I}21_{/}He replied, 'I 
will go and become a 
lying spirit in the 
mouths of all his 
prophets.' Yahweh said, 
'You shall trick him and 
succeed. Go and do it.' 
{I}22_{/}So Yahweh has 
put a lying spirit into 
the mouths of your 
prophets here because he 
himself wants you to meet 
with disaster!"
{I}23_{/}Then Zedekiah, 
son of Chenaanah came up 
and slapped Michaiah's 
face, and he asked, "When 
did the spirit of Yahweh 
leave me, to talk to 
you?" {I}24_{/}Micaiah 
replied, "This is what 
you will find out the day 
you flee from house to 
house to hide." 
{I}25_{/}The king of 
Israel said, "Seize 
Micaiah and hand him over 
to Amon, governor of the 
city, and to Prince 
Joash, {I}26_{/}and say: 
This is the king's order: 
Put this man in prison 
and feed him on nothing 
but bread and water until 
I come back safe and 
sound." {I}27_{/}Micaiah 
said, "If you come back 
safe and sound, Yahweh 
has not spoken through 
me."
{I}28_{/}The king of 
Israel and Jehoshaphat 
king of Judah went to 
attack the city of Ramoth 
in Gilead. {I}29_{/}The 
king of Israel said to 
Jehoshaphat, "I will 
disguise myself as we go 
into battle, but I want 
you to wear your royal 
clothes." The king of 
Aram had given his 
chariot commanders the 
following order: "Do not 
attack anyone of whatever 
rank, except the king of 
Israel." When the chariot 
commanders saw 
Jehoshaphat, they thought 
he was the king of 
Israel. And they wheeled 
to the attack. But 
Jehoshaphat gave a shout 
and Yahweh came to his 
help, God rescued him and 
turned the attack away 
from him. The chariot 
commanders realized that 
he was not the king of 
Israel and called off 
their pursuit.
By chance, however, one 
of the soldiers shot an 
arrow which struck the 
king of Israel between 
the joints of his armor. 
The king said to his 
charioteer, "Turn around 
and get me out of the 
battle; I have been 
hurt." But the battle 
grew fiercer so that they 
held the king upright in 
his chariot facing the 
Aramaeans until evening, 
and at sunset he died. 
{1}19{/}

{I}1_{/}Jehoshaphat came 
back safe and sound to 
Jerusalem. {I}2_{/}Jehu, 
son of Hanani the 
prophet, went to meet him 
and said to king 
Jehoshaphat, "Should a 
man give help to the 
wicked? Should you love 
those who hate Yahweh? 
Because of this you have 
brought his anger on you! 
{I}3_{/}There is some 
good in you, however, 
since you have removed 
from your land Asherah's 
trunks and have set your 
heart on seeking God."
{I}4_{/}Jehoshaphat 
stayed for a time in 
Jerusalem. After that he 
would again visit his 
people regularly, from 
Beersheba to the 
highlands of Ephraim to 
bring them back to 
Yahweh, the God of their 
ancestors. {I}5_{/}He 
appointed judges in the 
country in every one of 
all the fortified towns 
of Judah. {I}6_{/}He said 
to these judges, "Give 
due thought to your 
duties, since you are not 
judging in the name of 
men but in the name of 
Yahweh, who is with you 
whenever you pronounce 
sentence. {I}7_{/}May the 
fear of Yahweh now be on 
you. Keep the Law, apply 
it, for Yahweh our God 
does not tolerate fraud 
or partiality or the 
taking of bribes."
{I}8_{/}In addition, 
Jehoshaphat appointed 
priests, Levites and 
heads of Israelite 
families in Jerusalem as 
judges in cases involving 
a violation of the Law or 
legal disputes between 
people living in the 
city. They lived in 
Jerusalem {I}9_{/}and 
Jehoshaphat gave them the 
following instructions, 
"You are to perform these 
duties in the fear of 
Yahweh, as upright and 
honest men. 
{I}10_{/}Whatever dispute 
comes before you from 
your brothers living in 
their towns: either about 
crimes or questions of 
the Law, you are to teach 
them the commandments, 
statutes or ordinances, 
so that they do not 
become guilty of sinning 
against Yahweh, lest his 
anger come on you and 
your brothers. Do this 
and you will not be 
guilty.
{I}11_{/}Amariah, the 
chief priest, will have 
final authority over you 
in all religious matters, 
and Zebadiah son of 
Ishmael, governor of 
Judah, in all matters 
affecting the king. The 
Levites will serve as 
your scribes. Be 
courageous, carry out 
these instructions, and 
Yahweh will be there to 
bring success."
{1}20{/}

{I}1_{/}After this the 
Moabites and Ammonites 
with some of the Meunites 
started to make war on 
Jehoshaphat. 
{I}2_{/}Jehoshaphat 
received the following 
message, "A large army is 
advancing against you 
from Edom, from the other 
side of the sea; they are 
already at Hazaaon-tamar, 
that is, Engedi." 
{I}3_{/}Jehoshaphat was 
frightened and prayed to 
Yahweh for guidance. Then 
he ordered that a fast be 
observed throughout the 
country. {I}4_{/}Judah 
assembled to seek help 
from Yahweh; they came 
seeking Yahweh's guidance 
from every single town in 
Judah.
{I}5_{/}Then Jehoshaphat 
stood before this 
assembly of the people of 
Judah and Jerusalem in 
Yahweh's House, before 
the new court {I}6_{/}and 
said, "Yahweh, God of our 
ancestors, are you not 
the God who dwells in 
heaven? Do you not rule 
over all the kingdoms of 
the world? Such power and 
might are in your hands 
that no one can oppose 
you. {I}7_{/}Are you not 
our God, you who drove 
out the people who were 
living here before your 
people Israel and gave 
the land to the 
descendants of your 
friend Abraham forever? 
{I}8_{/}They have settled 
in it and built a 
sanctuary in it for your 
name, {I}9_{/}saying, 
'Should disaster strike 
us, or war, punishment, 
epidemic, or famine, then 
we shall stand before 
this house and before 
you, for your Name rests 
on this house. From the 
depths of our distress we 
shall cry to you, and you 
will hear and save us.'
{I}10_{/}Here now are the 
Ammonites and Moab and 
the folk of Seir. When 
Israel came out of the 
land of Egypt you would 
not let Israel invade 
them; instead, Israel 
turned away from them and 
did not destroy them, 
{I}11_{/}and this is how 
they reward us, by coming 
to drive us out of the 
possessions you have 
given us as our 
inheritance. 
{I}12_{/}Will you, our 
God, not punish them, 
since we are helpless in 
the face of this large 
army that attacks us? We 
ourselves do not know 
what to do; but we look 
to you."
{I}13_{/}All the men of 
Judah, even down to their 
youngest children and 
their wives, stood there 
at the House. {I}14_{/}In 
the middle of the 
assembly the spirit of 
Yahweh came on Jahaziel 
son of Zechariah, son of 
Benaiah, son of Jeiel, 
son of Mattaniah the 
Levite, one of the sons 
of Asaph. {I}15_{/}And he 
cried, "Listen all you 
men of Judah and you who 
live in Jerusalem, and 
you, King Jehoshaphat! 
Yahweh says this to you: 
You must not be 
discouraged or afraid to 
face this large army; 
this battle is not yours 
but God's. {I}16_{/}March 
out against them 
tomorrow; they are coming 
up by the Slope of Ziz 
and you will come on them 
in the Valley of Soph, 
near the wilderness of 
Jeruel. {I}17_{/}You will 
not need to fight there, 
but only take up your 
position, stand firm, and 
see what salvation Yahweh 
has in store for you. 
Judah and Jerusalem, be 
fearless, be dauntless; 
go out to battle tomorrow 
and Yahweh will be with 
you."
{I}18_{/}Jehoshaphat bent 
his head, his face to the 
ground, and all Judah 
with those who lived in 
Jerusalem fell down 
before Yahweh, worshiping 
him. {I}19_{/}Then the 
Levites - Kohathites and 
Korahites - began 
praising Yahweh the God 
of Israel at the top of 
their voices.
{I}20_{/}They rose early 
in the morning and left 
for the wilderness of 
Tekoa. As they were 
setting out, Jehoshaphat 
stood and said, "Listen 
to me Judah and all who 
live in Jeru-salem! Put 
your trust in Yahweh your 
God and you will stand 
your ground; have faith 
in his prophets and you 
will be successful." 
{I}21_{/}Then, having 
held a conference with 
the people, he ordered 
some musicians to put on 
the robes they wore on 
sacred occasions and to 
march at the head of the 
army, to sing praises to 
him: "Give praise to 
Yahweh, for his love is 
everlasting." {I}22_{/}As 
they began to sing their 
joy and their praise, 
Yahweh threw the invading 
armies into a panic and 
completely destroyed 
them. The Moabites and 
the Ammonites struck the 
people of Seir and there 
was a disaster. 
{I}23_{/}For the 
Ammonites and Moabites 
turned on the mountain 
folk of Seir in savage 
fighting and after they 
had destroyed them, they 
began to kill one 
another. 
{I}24_{/}When the men of 
Judah reached the spot 
that looks out on the 
wilderness and turned to 
face the enemy, they 
found only dead bodies 
lying on the ground; no 
one had escaped. 
{I}25_{/}Jehoshaphat came 
with his troops to 
plunder them, and found 
quantities of cattle, 
goods, clothing and 
valuables; they collected 
more than they could take 
away; the loot was so 
plentiful that they were 
three days gathering it. 
{I}26_{/}On the fourth 
day they assembled in the 
Valley of Beracah; and 
there they did indeed 
praise Yahweh for all he 
had done. Because of 
this, this Valley was 
named the Valley of 
Beracah which it is still 
called. {I}27_{/}Then all 
the men of Judah and 
Benjamin, with 
Jehoshaphat at their 
head, went back joyfully 
to Jerusalem, for Yahweh 
had filled them with joy 
at the expense of their 
enemies. {I}28_{/}To the 
music of harp and lyre 
and trumpet they came to 
Jerusalem and to Yahweh's 
House. {I}29_{/}When the 
kingdoms of foreign 
countries heard how 
Yahweh had defeated 
Israel's enemies, they 
were all terrified. 
{I}30_{/}In the meantime, 
the kingdom of 
Jehoshaphat was calm, and 
God granted him peace on 
every side.
{I}31_{/}Jehoshaphat 
reigned over Judah. He 
was thirty-five years old 
when he became king and 
he reigned for twenty-
five years in Jerusalem. 
His mother was Azubah, 
daughter of Shilhi. 
{I}32_{/}He followed the 
example of his father Asa 
without wavering, doing 
what is right in the eyes 
of Yahweh. {I}33_{/}The 
High places however, were 
not destroyed; the people 
had still not turned 
their hearts to the God 
of their ancestors. 
{I}34_{/}The rest of the 
history of Jehoshaphat, 
from first to last, is 
recorded in the Annals of 
Jehu son of Hanani which 
have been transcribed 
into the Book of the 
Kings of Israel.
{I}35_{/}After this, 
Jehoshaphat king of Judah 
allied himself with 
Ahaziah king of Israel, 
who led him into evil 
ways. {I}36_{/}He 
combined with him to 
build big ships that 
would sail to Tarshish. 
These were built at 
Eziongeber. 
{I}37_{/}Eliezer, son of 
Dodavahu of Mareshah, 
then made a prophecy 
against Jehoshaphat, 
"Because you have allied 
yourself with Ahaziah, 
Yahweh has destroyed your 
plans." In fact the ships 
broke up and were never 
fit to sail to Tarshish.
JEHORAM{/}

{1}21{/}

{I}1_{/}Jehoshaphat 
rested with his ancestors 
and was buried in the 
City of David. His son 
Jehoram succeeded him.
{I}2_{/}Jehoram had six 
brothers, sons of 
Jehoshaphat: Azariah, 
Jehiel, Zechariah, 
Azariahu, Michael and 
Shepatiah; these were all 
the sons of Jehoshaphat 
king of Israel. 
{I}3_{/}Their father had 
made them many gifts of 
silver, gold and jewels, 
and of fortified towns in 
Judah, but he made 
Jehoram his successor 
since he was the 
firstborn. {I}4_{/}When 
Jehoram was in firm 
control of the kingdom, 
he had all his brothers 
killed, as well as some 
Israelite officials.
{I}5_{/}Jehoram was 
thirty-two years old when 
he became king and he 
reigned for eight years 
in Jerusalem. {I}6_{/}He 
followed the wicked 
example of the kings of 
Israel and did as the 
family of Ahab had done, 
for he had married one of 
Ahab's daughters; and he 
did what was evil in the 
eyes of Yahweh. 
{I}7_{/}Yahweh however 
did not intend to destroy 
the descendants of David, 
because of the covenant 
he had made with David, 
when he promised to leave 
a lamp for him and his 
sons forever.
{I}8_{/}In his time Edom 
revolted against Judah 
and set up a king for 
itself. {I}9_{/}Jehoram 
invaded Edom with his 
commanders and all his 
chariots. He rose during 
the night and broke 
through and escaped from 
the Edomites encircling 
him and his chariot 
commanders. {I}10_{/}Thus 
Edom became independent 
of Judah, and has 
remained free to the 
present day. Libnah also 
revolted against Jehoram 
at the same time for he 
had deserted Yahweh, the 
God of his ancestors. 
{I}11_{/}He also set up 
High places in the 
highlands of Judah and 
caused the people living 
in Jerusalem and Judah to 
sin against Yahweh.
{I}12_{/}Then something 
written by the prophet 
Elijah came into his 
hand. It ran, "This is 
the word of Yahweh, the 
God of David your 
ancestor. You have not 
followed the example of 
your father Jehoshaphat 
or of Asa king of Judah, 
{I}13_{/}but the wicked 
example of the kings of 
Israel, and have caused 
Judah and the people 
living in Jerusalem to 
sin against Yahweh, just 
as Ahab and his 
successors did. You have 
also murdered your 
brothers, your own 
family, better men than 
yourself. 
{I}14_{/}Because of this 
Yahweh will strike you 
with a great calamity, 
which will come upon your 
people, your descendants, 
your wives and all your 
property. {I}15_{/}You 
yourself will suffer a 
painful intestinal 
disease that will grow 
worse day by day. 
{I}16_{/}Yahweh stirred 
up against Jehoram the 
Philistines and the Arabs 
bordering on the 
Cushites. {I}17_{/}They 
attacked Judah and 
invaded it, carrying off 
all they found in the 
king's palace, including 
his sons and his wives; 
the only son left him was 
Ahaziah, the youngest of 
them. {I}18_{/}And after 
all this, Yahweh brought 
on him a painful disease 
of the intestines. 
{I}19_{/}It lasted for 
more than one year, and 
when the two years were 
over and his last hour 
had come, he died in 
great pain. The people 
did not light a bonfire 
in mourning for him as 
they had for his father.
{I}20_{/}He was thirty-
two years old when he 
became king and he 
reigned for eight years 
in Jerusalem. He passed 
away with no one to 
regret him, and they 
buried him in the City of 
David, though not in the 
tombs of the kings.
AHAZIAH AND HIS POLICY{/}

{1}22{/}

{I}1_{/}The people of 
Jerusalem proclaimed his 
youngest son, Ahaziah, 
king in place of him, 
since the armed band that 
had broken into the camp 
with the Arabs had killed 
all the elder sons. So 
Ahaziah son of Jehoram 
became king of Judah.
{I}2_{/}Ahaziah was 
twenty years old when he 
became king and he 
reigned for one year in 
Jerusalem. His mother was 
Athaliah, daughter of 
Omri. {I}3_{/}He too 
followed the example of 
Ahab's family, since his 
mother gave him wicked 
advice. {I}4_{/}He sinned 
against Yahweh as Ahab's 
family had done, for they 
were his advisers after 
his father's death, and 
they led him to his 
downfall. {I}5_{/}He also 
put their policies into 
practice and went with 
Jeroham son of Ahab, king 
of Israel, to fight 
against Hazael king of 
Aram at Ramoth-gilead. 
But the Aramaeans wounded 
Jeroham, {I}6_{/}who 
returned to Jezreel to 
recover from the wounds 
that he had received at 
Ramoth, fighting against 
Hazael king of Aram.
Ahaziah son of Jehoram, 
king of Judah, went down 
to Jezreel to visit 
Jehoram son of Ahab 
because he was ill. 
{I}7_{/}Yahweh used this 
visit to Jeroham to bring 
about Ahaziah's downfall. 
On his arrival he went 
out with Jeroham against 
Jehu son of Nimshi whom 
Yahweh had chosen to 
destroy the family of 
Ahab. {I}8_{/}While Jehu 
was busy carrying out 
God's sentence against 
Ahab's family, he came 
across the officials of 
Judah and the kinsmen of 
Ahaziah who were in the 
king's service and killed 
them. {I}9_{/}He then 
went in search of Ahaziah 
who was captured while he 
tried to hide in Samaria. 
He was taken to Jehu who 
put him to death. But 
they gave him burial, for 
they said, "This was a 
son of Jehoshaphat who 
sought Yahweh with all 
his heart."
ATHALIAH{/}

{I}10_{/}There was no one 
left in the royal family 
of Ahaziah strong enough 
to reign. As soon as 
Athaliah, the mother of 
Ahaziah, learned that her 
son was dead, she 
promptly gave orders for 
all the members of the 
royal family of Judah to 
be killed. {I}11_{/}But 
Jehosheba, daughter of 
king Joram, secretly 
rescued Joash, her 
brother's son, from among 
the sons of the king who 
were being murdered, and 
put him with his nurse in 
the sleeping quarters; in 
this way Jehosheba the 
daughter of King Joram 
and wife of Jehoiada the 
priest (a sister, too, of 
Ahaziah) hid him from 
Athaliah, and prevented 
her from killing him. 
{I}12_{/}He stayed with 
them for six years, 
hidden in the house of 
God, while Athaliah 
governed the country.
{1}23{/}

{I}1_{/}After waiting six 
years Jehoiada the priest 
decided to take action. 
He sent for the 
commanders of hundreds: 
Azariah son of Jehoram, 
Ishmael son of Jehohanan, 
Azariah son of Obed, 
Maaseiah son of Adaiah 
and Elishaphat son of 
Zichri, and made a pact 
with them. {I}2_{/}They 
went through Judah, 
gathering the Levites 
from all the towns of 
Judah, and the heads of 
the Israelite families. 
They came to Jerusalem, 
{I}3_{/}and this whole 
assembly made a pact with 
the king in the house of 
God. Jehoiada told them, 
"Here is the son of the 
king, let him rule as 
king as Yahweh has 
promised regarding the 
descendants of David! 
{I}4_{/}This is what you 
must do: one third of 
you, priests, Levites and 
keepers of the gate, must 
come in for the sabbath, 
{I}5_{/}one third must be 
at the royal palace, one 
third at the Gate of 
Foundation, and all the 
people will be in the 
court of Yahweh's House. 
{I}6_{/}No one is to 
enter Yahweh's House 
except the priests and 
the Levites on duty, 
since they are 
consecrated and may 
enter. The people must 
all obey Yahweh's 
instructions and stay 
outside. {I}7_{/}The 
Levites must surround the 
king, each with his 
weapons in his hand; 
anyone who tries to enter 
the Temple is to be put 
to death. Stay with the 
king wherever he goes."
{I}8_{/}The Levites and 
all Judah carried out all 
the orders of Jehoiada 
the priest. Every 
commander summoned both 
those who went off duty 
on the Sabbath, and those 
coming on duty, because 
Jehoiada did not except 
anyone. {I}9_{/}Then 
Jehoiada the priest 
provided the commanders 
of hundreds with King 
David's spears and large 
and small shields, which 
were in the house of God. 
{I}10_{/}He stationed the 
men from the west wing to 
the east wing, between 
the House and the altar, 
each with spear in hand, 
to protect the king. 
{I}11_{/}Then they 
brought out the king's 
son, crowned him and put 
on him the ornaments, and 
they proclaimed him king. 
Jehoiada and his sons 
then anointed him and 
shouted, "Long live the 
king!"
{I}12_{/}Athaliah, on 
hearing the shouts of the 
people who were rushing 
to the king and 
acclaiming him, went to 
Yahweh's House where the 
people were. 
{I}13_{/}When she saw the 
king standing there at 
the entrance beside the 
pillar, with the captains 
and trumpeters at his 
side, and all the people 
from the countryside 
rejoicing and sounding 
trumpets, and the cantors 
with their musical 
instruments leading the 
hymns, Athaliah tore her 
clothes in distress and 
shouted, "Treason, 
treason!" {I}14_{/}Then 
Jehoiada the priest 
called out the military 
officers and ordered 
them, "Take her outside 
the Temple, and kill 
anyone who follows her." 
And he also said, "You 
must not put her to death 
in Yahweh's House." 
{I}15_{/}They seized her, 
and when she had reached 
the palace at the entry 
to the Gate of the 
Horses, they put her to 
death there.
{I}16_{/}Jehoiada made a 
covenant between the king 
and all the people, by 
which they would be the 
people of Yahweh. 
{I}17_{/}All the people 
then went to the house of 
Baal and tore it down; 
they smashed his altars 
and his images and killed 
Mattan, priest of Baal, 
in front of the altars.
{I}18_{/}Jehoiada posted 
sentries to guard 
Yahweh's House under the 
authority of the 
levitical priests. David 
had appointed them in 
Yahweh's House to offer 
the burnt offerings of 
Yahweh according to the 
Law of Moses, and to sing 
joyfully the songs of 
David. {I}19_{/}He 
stationed gatekeepers at 
the gates of the Temple 
of Yahweh so that no one 
who was in any way 
unclean might enter. 
{I}20_{/}Then taking the 
commanders of hundreds, 
the notables, the ranking 
officials, and all the 
people from the 
countryside, he brought 
the king in procession 
from the House to the 
palace. They entered the 
royal palace through the 
main gate and seated the 
king on the royal throne. 
{I}21_{/}All the people 
from the countryside were 
delighted, and the city 
was quiet. Athaliah was 
put to death. 
JOASH{/}

{1}24{/}

{I}1_{/}Joash was seven 
years old when he became 
king and he reigned for 
forty years in Jerusalem. 
His mother was Zibiah of 
Beersheba. {I}2_{/}Joash 
did what is pleasing to 
Yahweh throughout the 
lifetime of Jehoiada the 
priest. {I}3_{/}Jehoiada 
found him two wives and 
he had sons and 
daughters. {I}4_{/}After 
that Joash decided to 
repair Yahweh's House.
{I}5_{/}Calling the 
priests and the Levites 
together, he said, "Go 
out to the towns of 
Judah, and collect enough 
money from all the 
Israelites to make 
possible annual repairs 
on the house of God. Do 
this quickly." But the 
Levites were in no hurry, 
{I}6_{/}so the king 
called Jehoiada for he 
was their head, and said, 
"Why have you not 
insisted on the Levites 
collecting from Judah and 
Jerusalem the tax which 
Moses, the servant of 
Yahweh, required the 
people to pay for the 
maintenance of the Tent 
of the Meeting? 
{I}7_{/}Athaliah and her 
sons, whom she perverted, 
damaged the house of God 
and even used many of the 
sacred objects in the 
worship of Baal." 
{I}8_{/}So the king 
ordered them to make a 
chest and to place it 
outside the gate of 
Yahweh's House. 
{I}9_{/}And they 
announced throughout 
Judah and Jerusalem that 
they had to bring to 
Yahweh the tax Moses, 
that servant of God, had 
required in the 
wilderness. {I}10_{/}All 
the officials and all the 
people came joyfully with 
their contribution, 
dropping it into the 
chest until all was paid. 
{I}11_{/}The chest was 
taken to the royal office 
of control by the Levites 
whenever they saw that 
there was a great amount 
of money in it. The 
king's secretary then 
came with representatives 
of the chief priest to 
take the chest, empty it 
of money and later return 
it to its place. They did 
this every day, and 
collected a large sum of 
money. {I}12_{/}The king 
and Jehoiada gave the 
money to those who were 
in charge of repairing 
the House, and they hired 
men, masons and 
carpenters, who set about 
restoring Yahweh's House; 
craftsmen in iron and 
bronze also worked on the 
repairing of it. 
{I}13_{/}The supervisors 
having once made a start, 
the repairs went ahead; 
they rebuilt the house of 
God as it was before, as 
solid as ever. 
{I}14_{/}When they had 
finished, they brought 
the balance of the money 
to the king and Jehoiada, 
and from this, 
furnishings were made for 
Yahweh's House, vessels 
for the liturgy and for 
the burnt offerings, 
incense boats and objects 
of gold and silver.
So, for as long as 
Jehoiada lived they 
offered sacrifices 
regularly in Yahweh's 
House. {I}15_{/}Then 
Jehoiada, growing old, 
had his fill of days and 
died. He died at the age 
of a hundred and thirty 
years, {I}16_{/}and they 
buried him with the kings 
in the City of David 
because he had served 
Israel well and also God 
and his house.
{I}17_{/}After the death 
of Jehoiada, the 
officials of Judah came 
to pay court to the king, 
and the king now turned 
to them for advice. 
{I}18_{/}The Judaeans 
abandoned the house of 
Yahweh, the God of their 
ancestors, for the 
worship of sacred trunks 
and idols and God's anger 
fell on Judah and 
Jerusalem because of 
their guilt. {I}19_{/}He 
sent them prophets to 
bring them back to 
Yahweh, but when the 
prophets spoke, they 
would not listen. 
{I}20_{/}The spirit of 
God took control of 
Zechariah, son of 
Jehoiada the priest. He 
stood up before the 
people and said, "God 
says this: Why are you 
disobeying the 
commandments of Yahweh? 
You cannot prosper. You 
have abandoned Yahweh and 
he will abandon you." 
{I}21_{/}They then 
plotted against him and 
by order of the king 
stoned him in the court 
of Yahweh's House. 
{I}22_{/}King Joash 
forgot the kindness of 
Jehoiada, the father of 
Zechariah, and killed 
Jehoiada's son who cried 
out as he died, "Let 
Yahweh see and do 
justice!"
{I}23_{/}When a year had 
gone by, the Aramaean 
army made war on Joash. 
They reached Judah and 
Jerusalem, and killed all 
the officials among the 
people, sending back to 
the king of Damascus all 
that they had plundered 
from them. 
{I}24_{/}Though the 
Aramaean army was small, 
Yahweh delivered into its 
power an army of great 
size for they had 
abandoned him, the God of 
their ancestors.
{I}25_{/}The Aramaeans 
wounded Joash and when 
they withdrew they left 
him a very sick man; and 
his officers, plotting 
against him to avenge the 
death of the son of 
Jehoiada the priest, 
murdered him in his bed. 
So he died, and they 
buried him in the City of 
David, though not in the 
tombs of the king. 
{I}26_{/}These were the 
conspirators: Zabad son 
of Shimeath the Ammonite 
woman, and Jehozabad son 
of Shimrith the 
Moabitess. {I}27_{/}As 
regard his sons, the 
heavy tribute he 
demanded, and the 
restoration of the house 
of God, this is all 
recorded in the 
commentary on the Book of 
the Kings. His son 
Amaziah succeeded him.
AMAZIAH{/}

{1}25{/}

{I}1_{/}Amaziah was 
twenty-five years old 
when he became king, and 
he reigned for twenty-
nine years in Jerusalem. 
His mother was Hehoassan 
of Jerusalem. {I}2_{/}He 
did what is pleasing to 
Yahweh, though not 
steadily. {I}3_{/}As soon 
as he was firmly in 
power, he killed those of 
his officers who had 
murdered the king his 
father. {I}4_{/}But he 
did not put their sons to 
death, in obedience to 
what is written in the 
Law, in the book of 
Moses, where Yahweh has 
ordered, "Fathers must 
not be put to death for 
sons, nor sons for 
fathers; but everyone 
will pay for his own 
crime."
{I}5_{/}Amaziah called 
the men of Judah together 
and organized them in 
families with commanders 
of thousands and of 
hundreds for all Judah 
and Benjamin. He counted 
those who were twenty 
years old or older, and 
found there were three 
hundred thousand of 
selected warriors fit for 
military service, and for 
handling spear and 
shield. {I}6_{/}Next, he 
enrolled one hundred 
thousand from Israel as 
mercenaries, for about 
four tons of silver. 
{I}7_{/}A man of God then 
came to him and said, "O 
king, don't take these 
Israelite soldiers with 
you, for Yahweh is not 
with Israel or with any 
of the Ephraimites. 
{I}8_{/}If they come, 
whatever be the number of 
your men, God will still 
bring you down before 
your enemies, for God's 
is the power to uphold or 
to throw down." 
{I}9_{/}Amaziah answered 
the man of God, "And what 
about the four tons of 
silver I have given the 
Israelite soldiers?" The 
man of God replied, 
"Yahweh can give you far 
more than that." 
{I}10_{/}At this, Amaziah 
dismissed from his army 
the troops that had come 
to him from Ephraim and 
sent them home; these men 
were furious with Judah 
and went home in great 
anger.
{I}11_{/}Amaziah led his 
army to Salt Valley and 
defeated ten thousand 
Edomite soldiers. 
{I}12_{/}The men of Judah 
took ten thousand 
captives alive and, 
taking them to the top of 
the cliff, threw them off 
the top; they were all 
dashed to pieces. 
{I}13_{/}Then the 
Israelite troops which 
Amaziah had dismissed and 
not allowed to fight with 
him raided the towns of 
Judah, from Samaria as 
far as Bethhoron, but 
they were defeated by a 
troop of three thousand 
men who recovered great 
quantities of plunder.
{I}14_{/}On returning 
from his defeat of the 
Edomites, Amaziah brought 
the gods of the Edomites 
with him and set these up 
as gods for himself, 
bowing down before them 
and burning incense to 
them. {I}15_{/}Then 
Yahweh became angry with 
Amaziah and he sent him a 
prophet, who said, "Why 
have you looked to this 
people's gods, who could 
not save their own people 
from your power?" 
{I}16_{/}He was still 
speaking when Amaziah 
interrupted him, "Have we 
appointed you a royal 
counselor? If you do not 
want to be hurt, be 
quiet!" The prophet 
paused; then he said, 
"Now I know that God has 
decided to destroy you, 
since after having acted 
like this, you refuse to 
listen to me."
{I}17_{/}After consulting 
his advisers, Amaziah 
king of Judah sent a 
message to Joash son of 
Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, 
king of Israel, 
challenging him to fight. 
{I}18_{/}Joash king of 
Israel sent back word to 
Amaziah king of Judah, 
"The thornbush of Lebanon 
sent a message to the 
cedar of Lebanon, saying, 
'Give my son your 
daughter in marriage'; 
but the wild animals of 
Lebanon trampled the 
thornbush down as they 
passed. You are very 
proud because you have 
defeated the Edomites - 
Boast on but stay at 
home. {I}19_{/}Why stir 
up trouble that will only 
bring disaster on you and 
your people?"
{I}20_{/}But Amaziah 
would not listen. It was 
God's will for him to be 
defeated, because he had 
worshiped the Edomite 
idols. {I}21_{/}And at 
Bethshemesh Judah, they 
made their trial of 
strength, Joash and 
Amaziah king of Judah. 
{I}22_{/}Judah was 
defeated by Israel, and 
everyone fled to his 
tent. {I}23{/}The king of 
Judah, Amaziah son of 
Joash, son of Ahaziah, 
was taken prisoner at 
Bethshemesh by Joash, 
king of Israel who led 
him off to Jerusalem, 
where Joash tore down the 
city wall from the Gate 
of Ephraim to the Gate of 
the Corner, a distance of 
two hundred yards. 
{I}24_{/}He took all the 
gold and silver, all the 
furnishings to be found 
with Obed-edom in the 
House of God, the 
treasures of the royal 
palace, and hostages 
besides, and then 
returned to Samaria.
{I}25_{/}Amaziah son of 
Joash, king of Judah, 
lived for fifteen years 
after the death of Joash 
son of Jehoahaz, king of 
Israel.
{I}26_{/}The rest of the 
history of Amaziah, from 
first to last, is all 
recorded in the Book of 
the Kings of Judah and 
Israel. {I}27_{/}After 
the time when Amaziah 
rebelled against Yahweh, 
there had been a plot 
against him in Jerusalem; 
he fled to Lachish; but 
he was followed to 
Lachish and put to death 
there. {I}28_{/}He was 
brought back by horse, 
and buried with his 
ancestors in the City of 
David.
UZZIAH{/}

{1}26{/}

{I}1_{/}Uzziah, who is 
sixteen years old, and, 
made him king in place of 
his father Amaziah. 
{I}2_{/}He rebuilt Elath 
and recovered it for 
Judah, after the death of 
Amaziah. {I}3_{/}Uzziah 
was sixteen years old 
when he became king and 
he reigned for fifty-two 
years in Jerusalem. His 
mother was Jecoliah, of 
Jerusalem. {I}4_{/}He did 
what is pleasing to 
Yahweh, just as his 
father Amaziah had done; 
{I}5_{/}he sought God in 
the lifetime of 
Zechariah, who taught him 
the fear of God. And for 
as long as he sought 
Yahweh, God gave him 
prosperity. 
{I}6_{/}He went out to 
fight the Philistines, 
tore down the walls of 
Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod, 
then rebuilt the towns in 
the area of Ashdod and in 
Philistine territory. 
{I}7_{/}God helped him 
defeat the Philistines, 
the Arabs, the 
inhabitants of Gurbaal 
and the Meunites. 
{I}8_{/}The Ammonites 
paid tribute to Uzziah. 
His fame spread as far as 
the border of Egypt, 
since he had become very 
powerful indeed.
{I}9_{/}Uzziah built 
towers in Jerusalem, at 
the Gate of the Corner, 
at the Gate of the Valley 
and at the Angle; and he 
fortified these. 
{I}10_{/}He built towers 
in the wilderness too, 
and dug a great many 
cisterns, for he had 
large herds in the 
lowlands and on the 
tableland; and he had 
farmers and vinedressers 
in the hills and on the 
fertile lands; he was 
fond of agriculture.
{I}11_{/}Uzziah had an 
army ready for battle. 
They set out for war by 
turns, according to the 
census carried out by the 
scribe Jeiel and the 
registrar Maaseiah. Their 
commander was Hananiah, 
one of the king's 
officers. {I}12_{/}The 
total number of heads of 
families among these 
valiant warriors was two 
thousand six hundred. 
{I}13_{/}Under their 
command was a trained 
army of three hundred and 
seven thousand five 
hundred fighting men, a 
powerful force to support 
the king against the 
enemy. {I}14_{/}Uzziah 
provided them with 
shields, spears, helmets, 
coats of armor, bows and 
sling stones, for each 
battle. {I}15_{/}In 
Jerusalem he constructed 
engines, invented by 
experts, which were 
mounted on the towers and 
at the corners to fire 
arrows and great stones. 
His fame spread far and 
wide; for he was 
extraordinary in getting 
help until he was strong.
{I}16_{/}But, as his 
power increased, he 
became so proud that he 
lost what he had gained. 
He defied Yahweh his God 
by going into the House 
to burn incense on the 
altar of incense. 
{I}17_{/}Azariah the 
priest followed King 
Uzziah in, with eighty 
brave priests of Yahweh, 
{I}18_{/}to resist him. 
They said to him, 
"Uzziah, it is not for 
you to burn incense to 
Yahweh, but for the 
priests, the sons of 
Aaron, consecrated for 
the purpose. Leave the 
sanctuary; you have 
offended Yahweh God and 
you no longer have his 
blessing." 
{I}19_{/}Uzziah, censer 
in hand for the burning 
incense, became angry 
with the priests and 
immediately, leprosy 
broke out on his forehead 
in the presence of the 
priests, in Yahweh's 
House, there by the altar 
of incense. 
{I}20_{/}Azariah the 
chief priest and all the 
other priests turned 
toward him and saw the 
leprosy on his forehead. 
They quickly hurried him 
out, and he himself was 
anxious to go, since 
Yahweh had punished him.
{I}21_{/}King Uzziah was 
a leper till his dying 
day. He lived in an 
isolated house, a leper, 
excluded from Yahweh's 
House. Jotham, his son, 
was master of the palace, 
and ruled the people of 
the country.
{I}22_{/}The rest of the 
history of Uzziah, from 
first to last, has been 
written by the prophet 
Isaiah son of Amoz. 
{I}23_{/}Then Uzziah 
rested with his ancestors 
and they buried him in 
the ground where the tomb 
of the kings is, for they 
said, "He is a leper." 
His son Jotham succeeded 
him.
JOTHAM{/}

{1}27{/}

{I}1_{/}Jotham was 
twenty-five years old 
when he became king and 
he reigned for sixteen 
years in Jerusalem. His 
mother was Jerushah, 
daughter of Zadok. 
{I}2_{/}He did what is 
pleasing to Yahweh, just 
as his father Uzziah had 
done. But he did not 
enter the sanctuary of 
Yahweh. As for the 
people, they went on 
sinning.
{I}3_{/}He built the 
Upper Gate of Yahweh's 
House and carried out 
considerable work on the 
wall of the Ophel. 
{I}4_{/}He built towns in 
the highlands of Judah, 
and fortified places and 
towers in the fertile 
lands.
{I}5_{/}He fought against 
the king of the 
Ammonites. He defeated 
them, and that year the 
Ammonites gave him four 
tons of silver, fifty 
thousand bushels of wheat 
and ten thousand of 
barley. And they had to 
pay him the same for the 
second and third years. 
{I}6_{/}Jotham became 
powerful because he 
faithfully obeyed Yahweh 
his God.
{I}7_{/}The rest of the 
deeds of Jotham, all his 
wars and his policy, are 
recorded in the Book of 
the Kings of Israel and 
Judah. {I}8_{/}He was 
twenty-five years old 
when he became king and 
he reigned for sixteen 
years in Jerusalem. 
{I}9_{/}Then Jotham 
rested with his ancestors 
and they buried him in 
the City of David; his 
son Ahaz succeeded him. 
AHAZ{/}

{1}28{/}

{I}1_{/}Ahaz was twenty 
years old when he became 
king, and he reigned for 
sixteen years in 
Jerusalem. He did not do 
what is pleasing to 
Yahweh, as his ancestor 
David had done. 
{I}2_{/}He followed the 
example of the kings of 
Israel, and even had 
Baal's idols made of 
metal. {I}3_{/}He offered 
incense in the Valley of 
Ben-Hinnom and even 
sacrificed his own sons 
as burnt offerings to 
disgusting idols, copying 
the shameful practice of 
the people whom Yahweh 
had driven out of the 
land he would give to the 
Israelites. {I}4_{/}He 
offered sacrifices and 
incense at the High 
places, on the hills and 
under every spreading 
tree.
{I}5_{/}Yahweh his God 
let the King of the 
Aramaeans defeat him and 
take great numbers of his 
people captive, carrying 
them off to Damascus. He 
was also delivered into 
the power of the king of 
Israel, who defeated him. 
{I}6_{/}In a single day, 
Pekah son of Remaliah 
killed a hundred and 
twenty thousand in Judah, 
all brave fighting men; 
this was because they had 
abandoned Yahweh, the God 
of their ancestors. 
{I}7_{/}Zichri, an 
Ephraimite champion, 
killed Maaseiah, son of 
the king, Azrikam the 
controller of the palace, 
and Elkanah the king's 
second-in-command. 
{I}8_{/}The Israelites 
took two hundred thousand 
of their Judaean brothers 
captive, with wives, 
sons, and daughters; they 
also took quantities of 
loot, carrying everything 
off to Samaria.
{I}9_{/}A prophet of 
Yahweh, named Oded, was 
there and he went out to 
meet the troops returning 
to Samaria and said, 
"Yahweh, the God of your 
ancestors, was angry with 
Judah and so he delivered 
them into your power, but 
you have slaughtered with 
such fury as reaches to 
heaven. {I}10_{/}And you 
intended to make the men 
and women of Jerusalem 
and Judah your slaves. 
But you yourselves are 
also guilty before Yahweh 
your God. {I}11_{/}Now 
listen to me: release the 
prisoners you have taken 
of your brothers, or 
Yahweh will punish you in 
his anger."
{I}12_{/}Some of the 
Ephraimite chieftains 
then stood up in 
opposition to those who 
returned from the war: 
Azariah son of Jehohanan, 
Berechiah son of 
Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah 
son of Shallum and Amasa 
son of Hadlai. 
{I}13_{/}They said, "You 
must not bring the 
captives in here for we 
are guilty enough before 
Yahweh. Will you add to 
our sins and to our 
guilt? But our guilt is 
already heavy and the 
fierce anger of Yahweh is 
hanging over Israel." 
{I}14_{/}So in the 
presence of the officials 
and of the whole 
assembly, the army gave 
up the captives and the 
loot. {I}15_{/}Four men 
were appointed to provide 
the prisoners with 
clothing. From the loot 
they clothed all those 
who were naked; they gave 
them clothing and 
sandals, provided them 
with food and drink, and 
washed them. Those who 
were too weak to walk 
they put on donkeys and 
took them back to their 
kinsmen at Jericho, the 
city of palm trees. Then 
they returned to Samaria.
{I}16_{/}It was then that 
King Ahaz sent asking the 
kings of Assyria to come 
to his assistance, 
{I}17_{/}for the Edomites 
once again invaded and 
defeated Judah, and 
carried off prisoners. 
{I}18_{/}The Philistines 
were raiding the towns in 
the lowlands and in the 
Negeb of Judah. They took 
Bethshemesh, Aijalon, 
Gederoth, and Soco with 
its outlying villages, 
Timnah with its outlying 
villages, Gimzo with its 
outlying villages, and 
they settled in them.
{I}19_{/}Yahweh humbled 
Judah on account of Ahaz, 
king of Israel, who let 
Judah go its own way and 
was not faithful to 
Yahweh.
{I}20_{/}Tiglath-pileser 
king of Assyria attacked 
and besieged him but 
could not defeat him. 
{I}21_{/}Ahaz however had 
to take part of the goods 
in Yahweh's House and in 
the palaces of the king 
and princes, to hand over 
to the king of Assyria, 
yet he received no help 
from him. {I}22_{/}During 
the time Jerusalem was 
under siege, King Ahaz 
sinned against Yahweh 
more than ever, 
{I}23_{/}by offering 
sacrifices to the gods of 
Damascus who had defeated 
him. He said, "Since the 
gods of the kings of Aram 
have been of help to 
them, I will sacrifice to 
them so that they may be 
of help to me." But they 
proved to be his downfall 
and that of Israel.
{I}24_{/}Ahaz then took 
implements of the House 
and broke them in pieces; 
he closed the doors of 
Yahweh's House and put up 
altars at every street 
corner in Jerusalem; 
{I}25_{/}he set up High 
places in every town of 
Judah to offer incense to 
other gods, and so 
brought on himself the 
anger of Yahweh, the God 
of his ancestors.
{I}26_{/}The rest of his 
history, his whole 
policy, from first to 
last, is recorded in the 
Book of the Kings of 
Judah and Israel. 
{I}27_{/}Then Ahaz rested 
with his ancestors and 
they buried him in the 
city, in Jerusalem, 
though he was not taken 
into the tombs of the 
kings of Israel. His son 
Hezekiah succeeded him.
HEZEKIAH{/}

{1}29{/}

{I}1_{/}Hezekiah became 
king when he was twenty-
five years old and 
reigned for twenty-nine 
years in Jerusalem. His 
mother was Abijah, 
daugther Zechariah. 
{I}2_{/}He did what is 
pleasing to Yahweh, just 
as his ancestor David had 
done.
{I}3_{/}In the first 
month of the first year 
of his reign, he reopened 
the gates of Yahweh's 
House and repaired them. 
{I}4_{/}Then he brought 
the priests and the 
Levites, assembled them 
in the eastern square, 
{I}5_{/}and said to them:
"Listen to me, Levites! 
Sanctify yourselves now 
and consecrate the house 
of Yahweh, the God of our 
ancestors, and remove 
from the House everything 
that defiles it. 
{I}6_{/}Your ancestors 
have been unfaithful and 
have done what is 
displeasing to Yahweh our 
God. They have abandoned 
him; they have turned 
their faces away from the 
place Yahweh has made his 
home, they have turned 
their backs on him. 
{I}7_{/}They have even 
closed the doors of the 
Vestibule, they have put 
out the lamps and offered 
neither incense nor burnt 
offerings to the God of 
Israel in the Sanctuary. 
{I}8_{/}So the anger of 
Yahweh has fallen on 
Judah and Jerusalem; and 
what he has done to them 
has shocked and 
frightened everyone, as 
you can see for 
yourselves. {I}9_{/}This 
is why our ancestors have 
fallen by the sword, and 
our sons, our daughters, 
and our wives have been 
taken captive.
{I}10_{/}But now I have 
decided to make a 
covenant with Yahweh, the 
God of Israel, so that 
his fierce anger may be 
turned away from us. 
{I}11_{/}My sons, be 
negligent no longer, for 
Yahweh has chosen you to 
stand in his presence and 
serve him, to worship 
him, and offer him 
incense."
{I}12_{/}The Levites set 
to work: Mahath son of 
Amasai and Joel son of 
Azariah, of the 
Kohathites; Kish son of 
Abdi and Azariah son of 
Jehallelel of the 
Merarites; Joah son of 
Zimmah and Eden son of 
Joah of the Gershonites; 
{I}13_{/}Shimri and Jeuel 
of the sons of Elizaphan; 
Zechariah and Mattaniah 
of the sons of Asaph; 
{I}14_{/}Jehiel and 
Shimei of the sons of 
Heman; and Shemaiah and 
Uzziel of the sons of 
Jeduthun. {I}15_{/}They 
gathered their fellow 
Levites together, 
purified them, and in 
obedience to the king's 
order and in accordance 
with the words of Yahweh, 
they began consecrating 
in the Temple of Yahweh.
{I}16_{/}The priests went 
inside the house of 
Yahweh to make it clean. 
They brought everything 
unclean they found in the 
sanctuary of Yahweh, out 
into the court of 
Yahweh's House, and the 
Levites collected it and 
carried it outside, into 
the Kidron Valley. 
{I}17_{/}They began this 
consecration on the first 
day of the first month, 
and were able to enter 
the Hall of Yahweh on the 
eight of the month; they 
then took eight days to 
consecrate Yahweh's 
House, and finished on 
the sixteenth day of the 
first month.
{I}18_{/}They then went 
into the palace of King 
Hezekiah and said, "We 
have purified the whole 
Temple of Yahweh, the 
altar for burnt offerings 
with all its furnishings, 
and the table on which 
the rows of bread are set 
with all its furnishings. 
{I}19_{/}All the 
furnishings King Ahaz 
took away during those 
years he was unfaithful 
to Yahweh we have put 
back and consecrated; 
they are now in front of 
the altar of Yahweh."
{I}20_{/}King Hezekiah 
lost no time but called 
the officials of the city 
together and went up to 
Yahweh's House. 
{I}21_{/}They brought 
seven bulls, seven rams 
and seven lambs, with 
seven he-goats as a 
sacrifice for sin on 
behalf of the royal 
house, of the sanctuary, 
and of Judah. The king 
then told the priests, 
the sons of Aaron, to 
offer the burnt offering 
on the altar of Yahweh. 
{I}22_{/}They slaughtered 
the bulls and the priests 
took up the blood and 
poured it on the altar. 
They then slaughtered the 
rams and poured their 
blood on the altar. 
{I}23_{/}Then they 
brought the he-goats, the 
sacrifice for sin, before 
the king and the assembly 
who laid their hands on 
them. {I}24_{/}The 
priests slaughtered them, 
and with their blood on 
the altar offered a 
sacrifice to take away 
the sin of all the people 
- since the king had 
ordered the burnt 
offering and the 
sacrifice for sin on 
behalf of all Israel. 
{I}25_{/}He then ordered 
the Levites to stand in 
Yahweh's House with 
cymbals, harps and lyres, 
in accordance with the 
ordinances of David, of 
Gad the king's prophet 
and of Nathan the 
prophet; the order had in 
fact come from Yahweh 
through his prophets. 
{I}26_{/}When the Levites 
had taken their places 
with David's musical 
instruments, and the 
priests with their 
trumpets, 
{I}27_{/}Hezekiah ordered 
the burnt offering to 
begin, the hymns of 
Yahweh began too, and the 
trumpets sounded, to the 
accompaniment of the 
instruments of David king 
of Israel. {I}28_{/}The 
whole assembly worshiped, 
cantors singing, trumpets 
sounding, until the 
holocaust was over.
{I}29_{/}When the 
offering was at an end, 
the king and all there 
with him fell to their 
knees and worshiped. 
{I}30_{/}Then King 
Hezekiah and the 
officials told the 
Levites to sing praise to 
Yahweh in the words of 
David and of Asaph the 
prophet; they sang 
praises till their joy 
was full and then they 
fell down and worshiped. 
{I}31_{/}Hezekiah spoke 
again, "Now you are 
dedicated to the service 
of Yahweh. Come forward, 
bring sacrifices and 
thanksgiving offerings 
into Yahweh's House." The 
assembly brought 
sacrifices and 
thanksgiving offerings: 
all the generous people 
brought burnt offerings. 
{I}32_{/}The number of 
victims for these burnt 
offerings was seventy 
bulls, a hundred rams and 
two hundred lambs, all as 
burnt offerings for 
Yahweh; {I}33_{/}six 
hundred bulls and three 
hundred sheep were 
sacrificed. {I}34_{/}The 
priests were too few, 
however, and could not 
slaughter all these 
animals, so the Levites 
helped them until the 
work was done and the 
other priests were 
sanctified; for the 
Levites were more 
educated than the priests 
regarding the 
requirements of 
purification. 
{I}35_{/}There were 
indeed many burnt 
offerings besides the fat 
of the peace offerings 
which was to be burnt 
together with the drink 
offerings. So was 
completed the 
consecration of Yahweh's 
House. Hezekiah and all 
the people rejoiced that 
God had helped the people 
to act so promptly.
THE GREAT PASSOVER{/}

{1}30{/}

{I}1_{/}Hezekiah sent 
messengers to all Judah 
and Israel (for he also 
wrote letters to Ephraim 
and Manasseh), inviting 
them to come to Yahweh's 
House in Jerusalem to 
celebrate a Passover in 
honor of Yahweh, the God 
of Israel. {I}2_{/}The 
king and his officials 
and all the assembly in 
Jerusalem had agreed to 
celebrate it in the 
second month, 
{I}3_{/}being unable to 
celebrate it at the 
proper time, since the 
priests had not purified 
themselves in sufficient 
numbers, and the people 
had not assembled in 
Jerusalem. {I}4_{/}The 
king and all the assembly 
were pleased with their 
plan. {I}5_{/}They issued 
a decree to be proclaimed 
throughout Israel, from 
Dan to Beer-sheba, 
calling all the people to 
come to Jerusalem and 
celebrate a Passover in 
honor of Yahweh, the God 
of Israel, for they had 
not celebrated it for a 
long time. 
{I}6_{/}Messengers went 
out with letters from the 
hands of the king and his 
officials for every part 
of Israel and Judah. They 
had orders from the king 
to say, "People of 
Israel, come back to 
Yahweh the God of 
Abraham, of Isaac, of 
Israel, and he will come 
back to those of you who 
are left and have escaped 
the grasp of the kings of 
Assyria. {I}7_{/}Do not 
be like your fathers and 
brothers who were 
unfaithful to Yahweh, the 
God of their ancestors, 
and whom he punished 
severely as you can see. 
{I}8_{/}Do not harden 
your hearts as your 
ancestors did, but 
reconcile with Yahweh and 
come to his house which 
he has consecrated 
forever. Serve Yahweh 
your God and he will turn 
his fierce anger from 
you. {I}9_{/}If you come 
back sincerely to Yahweh, 
your brothers and your 
sons will win the mercy 
of their conquerors and 
return to this land, for 
Yahweh your God is 
gracious and merciful. If 
you come back to him, he 
will not turn his face 
from you."
{I}10_{/}The messengers 
went from town to town 
through the land of 
Ephraim and Manasseh, but 
the people laughed at 
them and made fun of 
them, {I}11_{/}though a 
few men from Asher and 
Manasseh and Zebulun were 
humble enough to come to 
Jerusalem. {I}12_{/}But 
in Judah, the hand of God 
was upon the people and 
made them of one mind to 
obey the order of the 
king and the officials 
according to the word of 
Yahweh. {I}13_{/}A great 
number of people gathered 
in Jerusalem to celebrate 
the feast of Unleavened 
Bread in the second 
month. A very great 
assembly {I}14_{/}set to 
work removing the altars 
that had been used in 
Jerusalem and all the 
altars for burning 
incense, and throwing 
them into the wadi 
Kidron.
{I}15_{/}They killed the 
lambs for the passover 
sacrifice on the 
fourteenth day of the 
second month. The priests 
and the Levites felt 
ashamed; so they 
sanctified themselves and 
were able to bring burnt 
offerings into Yahweh's 
House. {I}16_{/}Then they 
took up their places in 
the House according to 
the instructions in the 
Law of Moses, the man of 
God. The priests poured 
out the blood handed to 
them by the Levites, 
{I}17_{/}since there were 
many people in the 
assembly who had not 
sanctified themselves; so 
the Levites were to 
slaughter the Passover 
lambs on behalf of those 
who lacked the requisite 
purity in order to 
consecrate them to 
Yahweh. {I}18_{/}For many 
people, especially from 
Ephraim, Manasseh, 
Issachar and Zebulun, had 
not purified themselves 
and so had eaten the 
Passover without 
observing the 
regulations.
But Hezekiah interceded 
for them, saying, 
{I}19_{/}"Yahweh, God of 
our ancestors, in your 
goodness forgive those 
who seek you with all 
their heart, even though 
they are not clean." 
{I}20_{/}Yahweh heard 
Hezekiah and left the 
people unharmed.
{I}21_{/}For seven days 
the Israelites rejoiced 
and celebrated in 
Jerusalem the feast of 
Unleavened Bread, while 
each day the Levites and 
the priests praised 
Yahweh with all their 
might. {I}22_{/}At the 
end Hezekiah encouraged 
the Levites who had shown 
themselves skilled in the 
worship of Yahweh. 
{I}23_{/}Then all the 
assembly agreed to 
continue the celebrations 
for a further seven days 
which they made seven 
days of rejoicing. 
{I}24_{/}Hezekiah king of 
Judah had provided a 
thousand bulls and seven 
thousand sheep for the 
assembly, and the 
officials another 
thousand bulls and ten 
thousand sheep, and now 
the priests were ready in 
great numbers. 
{I}25_{/}So the whole 
assembly of Judah 
rejoiced, the priests 
too, and the Levites, and 
all who had come from 
Israel, the refugees of 
Israel living in Judah 
and the people of Judah. 
{I}26_{/}There was great 
rejoicing in Jerusalem, 
for since the time of 
Solomon son of David, 
king of Israel, nothing 
like this had happened in 
Jerusalem. {I}27_{/}The 
levitical priests began 
to bless the people. 
Their voices were heard 
and their prayer received 
in heaven, His holy 
dwelling place.
{1}31{/}

{I}1_{/}When all this was 
over, all the Israelites 
who were there set off 
for the towns of Judah to 
smash the pillar, cut 
down the sacred trunks 
and wreck the High places 
and the altars. So they 
did throughout Judah, 
Benjamin, Ephraim, and 
Manasseh and did away 
with them. Then all the 
Israelites returned to 
their towns, each man to 
his home.
{I}2_{/}Hezekiah 
reestablished the 
priestly and levitical 
orders, each man in his 
proper order according to 
his duties, whether 
priest or Levite, whether 
for burnt offering, peace 
offering, liturgical 
service, thanksgiving or 
praise, within the gates 
of the camp of Yahweh. 
{I}3_{/}The king set 
aside a portion of his 
own possessions for the 
morning and evening burnt 
offerings, and the burnt 
offerings of sabbath, New 
Moon, and solemn feast, 
as laid down in the Law 
of Yahweh. {I}4_{/}He 
then told the people of 
Jerusalem to give the 
priests and the Levites 
their share so that they 
might devote themselves 
to the Law of Yahweh.
{I}5_{/}As soon as the 
order had been published, 
the Israelites gathered 
in the first fruits of 
corn, wine, oil, honey, 
and all agricultural 
produce, and brought in a 
generous gift of 
everything. {I}6_{/}The 
Israelites and Judaeans 
living in the towns of 
Judah also brought in the 
tithe of cattle and 
sheep, and the tithe of 
the holy things dedicated 
to Yahweh their God, 
piling them up, heap 
after heap. {I}7_{/}They 
began making these heaps 
in the third month and 
finished them in the 
seventh.
{I}8_{/}When Hezekiah and 
his officials saw how 
much had been given, they 
praised Yahweh and 
praised his people 
Israel. {I}9_{/}Hezekiah 
questioned the priests 
and the Levites about the 
heaps, {I}10_{/}and 
Azariah, the chief 
priest, of the family of 
Zadok, answered him, 
"Since the contributions 
were first brought to 
Yahweh's House, we have 
had enough to eat and 
still have plenty left 
over, for Yahweh has 
blessed his people; this 
huge pile is what is 
left." {I}11_{/}Hezekiah 
then ordered them to have 
storerooms prepared in 
Yahweh's House. They did 
this, {I}12_{/}and then 
brought in the 
contributions, tithes and 
consecrated things, to 
keep them in a safe 
place. Conaniah the 
Levite was officer-in-
charge of them, with 
Shimei his brother as his 
assistant.
{I}13_{/}Jehiel, Azaziah, 
Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, 
Jozabad, Eliel, 
Ismachiah, Mahat, and 
Benaiah were appointed 
supervisors under the 
command of Conaiah and 
his brother Shimei, by 
order of King Hezekiah 
and of Azariah the High 
Priest. {I}14_{/}Kore, 
son of Imnah the Levite, 
keeper of the eastern 
gate, was made 
responsible for the 
voluntary offerings to 
God; he provided the 
portion set aside for 
Yahweh and the most holy 
offerings. {I}15_{/}Under 
his command he had Eden, 
Miniamin, Jeshua, 
Shemaiah, Amariah and 
Shecaniah, who resided 
permanently in the towns 
of the priests to 
distribute these gifts to 
their kinsmen great or 
small according to their 
orders.
{I}16_{/}In addition to 
this, there was the 
organization by related 
groups of all those men 
thirty years old or older 
who went to Yahweh's 
House, by daily rotation, 
to perform the ritual 
duties appropriate to 
their orders. 
{I}17_{/}There was also 
the organization of 
priests by families; as 
also that of Levites 
twenty years old or 
older, by duties and 
orders. {I}18_{/}There 
was also the organization 
of all their families for 
the whole assembly, since 
they were busy with the 
holy ministry. 
{I}19_{/}As regards the 
priests, the sons of 
Aaron, who lived in the 
pasture lands belonging 
to their towns, or in the 
towns themselves, 
appointed men, 
distributed the food to 
every male among the 
priests and also to the 
inscribed Levites who 
were enrolled.
{I}20_{/}Hezekiah 
enforced these 
arrangements throughout 
Judah. He did what is 
good and right and loyal 
before Yahweh his God. 
{I}21_{/}He was 
successful, because 
everything he did for the 
Temple or in observance 
of the Law, he did as one 
seeking God with all his 
heart.
INVASION OF 
SENNACHERIB{/}

{1}32{/}

{I}1_{/}After Hezekiah 
had faithfully done all 
this, Sennacherib king of 
Assyria invaded Judah. He 
pitched camp before the 
fortified towns and gave 
orders for his army to 
break their way through 
the walls. 
{I}2_{/}Hezekiah realized 
that Sennacherib intended 
to attack Jerusalem also, 
{I}3_{/}so he summoned 
his officers and 
champions and they 
decided to cut off the 
water supply from the 
springs situated outside 
the city. {I}4_{/}So a 
large number of people 
banded together to block 
all the springs and cut 
off the watercourse 
flowing through the 
fields. They said, "Why 
should the king of 
Assyria find plenty of 
water when he arrives?" 
{I}5_{/}Hezekiah 
strengthened his 
defenses: he had the 
broken parts of the wall 
repaired, built towers on 
it, constructed a second 
wall on the outer side, 
strengthened the Millo of 
the City of David and 
made quantities of spears 
and shields. {I}6_{/}He 
then appointed generals 
to command the people, 
had them assemble in the 
square by the city gate 
and spoke as follows to 
encourage them, 
{I}7_{/}"Be strong and 
stand firm; be fearless, 
be confident when you 
face the king of Assyria 
and the whole army he 
brings with him, since he 
that is with us is 
stronger than he that is 
with him. {I}8_{/}He has 
only an arm of flesh, but 
we have Yahweh our God to 
help us and fight our 
battles." The people were 
encouraged by the words 
of Hezekiah king of 
Judah.
{I}9_{/}Next, Sennacherib 
king of Assyria, who was 
then outside Lachish with 
all his army, sent his 
servants to Jerusalem, to 
Hezekiah king of Judah, 
and to all the Judaeans 
who were in Jerusalem. 
They said, {I}10_{/}"Hear 
the message from 
Sennacherib king of 
Assyria, 'What gives you 
the confidence to stay in 
Jerusalem under siege? 
{I}11_{/}Is not Hezekiah 
deceiving you? Is he not 
condemning you to die of 
hunger and thirst when he 
says: Yahweh our God will 
save us from the king of 
Assyria? {I}12_{/}Is not 
Hezekiah the very man who 
has destroyed the High 
places and the altars of 
Yahweh, and given the 
order to Judah and to 
Jerusalem: Before one 
altar only are you to 
worship, and on that 
alone offer incense? 
{I}13_{/}Do you not know 
what I have done, I and 
my ancestors, to all the 
peoples of other 
countries? Have the gods 
of any nation in those 
countries ever been able 
to save them from me? 
{I}14_{/}Who among all 
the gods of those nations 
was able to save his 
people from me? 
{I}15_{/}Do not let 
Hezekiah deceive you. Do 
not let him mislead you 
like this. Do not believe 
him, for no god of any 
nation or kingdom has 
been able to save his 
people from me or from my 
ancestors. No more will 
your god be able to save 
you from me."
{I}16_{/}His officials 
were still speaking 
against Yahweh God, and 
his servant Hezekiah, 
{I}17_{/}when Sennacherib 
wrote a letter insulting 
Yahweh the God of Israel. 
This is what he said 
about him, "Just as the 
gods of the nations in 
other countries have 
failed to save their 
peoples from me, so will 
the god of Hezekiah fail 
to save his people." 
{I}18_{/}They shouted 
this out in the language 
of Judah, to the people 
of Jerusalem who were on 
the city wall, to confuse 
and frighten them, and so 
that they might capture 
the city: {I}19_{/}they 
spoke of the God of 
Jerusalem in the same way 
they talked of the gods 
of the peoples of the 
world, the work of human 
hands.
{I}20_{/}Then King 
Hezekiah and the prophet 
Isaiah son of Amoz prayed 
and cried out to heaven. 
{I}21_{/}And Yahweh sent 
an angel who made all the 
mighty warriors, 
commanders and officers 
die in the camp of the 
king of Assyria. So the 
emperor went back to 
Assyria very ashamed. And 
as he came into the 
temple of his god, some 
of his own sons struck 
him with their swords. 
{I}22_{/}So Yahweh saved 
Hezekiah and the people 
of Jerusalem from the 
power of Sennacherib king 
of Assyria and from 
everyone else, and he 
gave them peace on every 
side. {I}23_{/}Many 
people brought grain 
offerings to Yahweh in 
Jerusalem and gifts for 
Hezekiah king of Judah; 
since then all the 
nations held Hezekiah in 
honor.
{I}24_{/}In those days, 
Hezekiah fell ill and was 
at the point of death. He 
prayed to Yahweh, who 
heard him and granted him 
a sign. {I}25_{/}But 
Hezekiah did not show 
gratitude for what Yahweh 
had done for him; his 
heart grew proud and 
Judah and Jerusalem 
suffered for it. 
{I}26_{/}Finally, 
however, Hezekiah and the 
people of Jerusalem 
humbled themselves, and 
so Yahweh did not punish 
the people until after 
Hezekiah's death. 
{I}27_{/}Hezekiah enjoyed 
immense riches and honor. 
He built himself 
storerooms for gold, 
silver, precious stones, 
spices, gems and every 
sort of valuable. 
{I}28_{/}He had 
storehouses for his 
returns of corn, wine and 
oil, buildings for his 
different sorts of 
cattle, and sheep runs 
for his sheep, 
{I}29_{/}and, further, 
acquired donkeys and 
enormous herds and 
flocks. God had indeed 
given him very great 
riches.
{I}30_{/}It was Hezekiah 
who stopped the upper 
outlet of Gihon Spring 
and channeled the water 
down to the west side of 
the City of David. 
Hezekiah succeeded in all 
he undertook. 
{I}31_{/}However, when 
the authorities in 
Babylon sent to him to 
inquire about the 
extraordinary thing that 
had taken place in the 
country, God abandoned 
him only to test him, and 
to discover the secrets 
of his heart.
{I}32_{/}The rest of the 
history of Hezekiah, and 
his deed of piety, are 
recorded in the Vision of 
the prophet Isaiah son of 
Amoz and in the Book of 
the Kings of Judah and 
Israel. {I}33_{/}Then 
Hezekiah rested with his 
fathers and they buried 
him on the slope going up 
to the tombs of the sons 
of David. At his death, 
all of Judah and the 
inhabitants of Jerusalem 
did him honor. His son 
Manasseh succeeded him.
MANASSEH{/}

{1}33{/}

{I}1_{/}Manasseh was 
twelve years old when he 
came to the throne and he 
reigned for fifty-five 
years in Jerusalem. 
{I}2_{/}He did what was 
evil in the eyes of 
Yahweh, and followed the 
disgusting practices of 
the nations that Yahweh 
had removed from the land 
before giving it to 
Israel, {I}3_{/}He 
rebuilt the High places 
his father Hezekiah had 
wrecked; he set up altars 
to the Baals and made 
sacred trunks. He 
worshiped the whole array 
of heaven and served it. 
{I}4_{/}He built altars 
in Yahweh's House of 
which Yahweh had said, 
"In Jerusalem shall my 
Name be forever." 
{I}5_{/}He built altars 
to the whole array of 
heaven in the two courts 
of Yahweh's House. 
{I}6_{/}He caused his 
sons to pass through the 
fire in the Valley of 
Benhinnom. He practiced 
soothsaying, magic and 
witchcraft, and 
introduced necromancers 
and wizards. He did many 
things displeasing to 
Yahweh, thus provoking 
his anger. {I}7_{/}He 
placed the idol he had 
made in the house of 
which God had said to 
David and to his son 
Solomon, "In this house 
and in Jerusalem, the 
city I chose out of all 
the tribes of Israel, I 
will give my Name a home 
forever. {I}8_{/}I will 
no longer turn Israel's 
footsteps away from the 
land I assigned to their 
fathers, provided they 
observe all I have 
ordered them in 
accordance with the whole 
Law, the statutes and the 
ordinances, given through 
Moses." {I}9_{/}Manasseh 
led Judah and the 
inhabitants of Jerusalem 
astray, so that they did 
more evil than those 
nations Yahweh had 
destroyed before the sons 
of Israel. 
{I}10_{/}Yahweh spoke to 
Manasseh and his people, 
but they paid no 
attention.
{I}11_{/}Then Yahweh sent 
the generals of the king 
of Assyria against them, 
who captured Manasseh 
with hooks, put him in 
chains and led him away 
to Babylon. {I}12_{/}In 
his distress he sought to 
appease Yahweh his God. 
Humbling himself deeply 
before the God of his 
ancestors, he prayed to 
him, {I}13_{/}and God 
changed his mind. Hearing 
his plea he allowed him 
to come back to Jerusalem 
and reign again. Manasseh 
realised then that Yahweh 
is God. {I}14_{/}After 
that he rebuilt the outer 
wall of the Citadel of 
David, west of Gihon in 
the wadi, as far as the 
Fish Gate; it encircled 
the Ophel, and he 
increased its height very 
considerably. He 
stationed military 
governors in all the 
fortified towns of Judah.
{I}15_{/}He removed the 
alien gods and the idol 
from Yahweh's House and 
all the altars he had 
built on the mountain of 
Yahweh's House and in 
Jerusalem, and threw them 
out of the city. 
{I}16_{/}He rebuilt the 
altar of Yahweh and 
offered peace offerings 
and praise offerings on 
it, and ordered Judah to 
serve Yahweh the God of 
Israel; {I}17_{/}however, 
the people continued to 
sacrifice on the High 
places, although only to 
Yahweh their God.

{I}18_{/}The rest of the 
history of Manasseh, his 
prayer to God, and the 
words of the seers who 
spoke to him in the name 
of Yahweh the God of 
Israel, can be found in 
the Annals of the Kings 
of Israel. {I}19_{/}His 
prayer and how God heard 
his prayer, all his sins, 
his unfaithfulness, the 
sites where he built High 
places and set up sacred 
trunks and idols before 
he humbled himself are 
recorded in the Annals of 
Hozai. {I}20_{/}Then 
Manasseh rested with his 
ancestors and was buried 
in his palace. His son 
Amon succeeded him. 
{I}21_{/}Amon was twenty-
two years old when he 
became king and he 
reigned for two years in 
Jerusalem. {I}22_{/}He 
did what is displeasing 
to Yahweh, as Manasseh 
his father had done. Amon 
offered sacrifice and 
worship to all the idols 
Manasseh his father had 
made, {I}23_{/}but he did 
not humble himself before 
Yahweh like Manasseh his 
father had done; instead 
he made the guilt of 
Judah worse. {I}24_{/}His 
officers plotted against 
him and killed him in his 
palace. But the people of 
the nation struck down 
all those who had plotted 
against King Amon and 
proclaimed his son Josiah 
as his successor.
JOSIAH{/}

{1}34{/}

{I}1_{/}Josiah was eight 
years old when he became 
king and he reigned for 
thirty-one years in 
Jerusalem. {I}2_{/}He did 
what is pleasing to 
Yahweh, and walked in the 
ways of his father David, 
without turning aside.
{I}3_{/}In the eighth 
year of his reign, when 
he was still a youth, he 
began to seek the God of 
his father David. In the 
twelfth year he began to 
purge Judah and Jerusalem 
of the High places, the 
sacred trunks and the 
molten idols. {I}4_{/}He 
looked on while they 
smashed the altars of 
Baal, and he himself tore 
down the incense altars 
near them. He reduced to 
dust the symbols of 
Asherah and the other 
idols and then threw the 
dust over the graves of 
those who had sacrificed 
to them. {I}5_{/}He 
burned the bones of their 
priests on their altars, 
and so purified Judah and 
Jerusalem. {I}6_{/}He did 
the same in the towns of 
Manasseh, Ephraim, 
Simeon, and as far as 
Naphtali, and in the 
devastated areas around 
them. {I}7_{/}There too 
he destroyed the altars 
and symbols of the 
goddess, smashed the 
sacred trunks and the 
idols and ground them to 
powder, and tore down all 
the altars of incense 
throughout the land of 
Israel. Then he returned 
to Jerusalem.
{I}8_{/}In the eighteenth 
year of his reign, with 
the object of purifying 
land and Temple, he sent 
Shaphan son of Azaliah, 
Maaseiah governor of the 
city and the herald Joah 
son of Joahaz, to repair 
the house of Yahweh his 
God. {I}9_{/}These men 
went to the high priest 
Hilkiah and handed over 
to him the money that had 
been brought to the house 
of God. The Levite 
gatekeepers had collected 
this money from Manasseh, 
Ephraim and all the rest 
of Israel, and from all 
the Judaeans and 
Benjaminites and from the 
people living in 
Jerusalem. {I}10_{/}They 
handed it over to the 
masters of works of 
Yahweh's House and these 
men used it for the 
repair and restoration of 
the House. {I}11_{/}They 
gave it to the carpenters 
and builders for buying 
the stones and timber for 
the beams and framework 
of the buildings which 
the kings of Judah had 
let go to ruin.
{I}12_{/}The men worked 
conscientiously. Over 
them were set Jahath and 
Obadiah, Levites of the 
sons of Merari; together 
with Zechariah and 
Meshullam of the sons of 
Kohath, as supervisors. 
These Levites were all 
skilled liturgical 
musicians; {I}13_{/}but 
they also directed the 
carriers and the masters 
of works of the various 
jobs. Other Levites were 
scribes, clerks and 
gatekeepers.
THE BOOK OF THE LAW 
DISCOVERED{/}

{I}14_{/}When they were 
taking out the money that 
had been brought to 
Yahweh's House, Hilkiah 
the high priest found the 
book of the Law given 
through Moses. 
{I}15_{/}At once Hilkiah 
told Shaphan the 
secretary, "I have found 
the book of the Law in 
Yahweh's House." And 
Hilkiah gave the book to 
Shaphan. {I}16_{/}Shaphan 
took the book to the 
king, and reported to 
him, "Your servants are 
carrying out the commands 
you gave them: 
{I}17_{/}they have melted 
down the silver which was 
in Yahweh's House and 
have handed it over to 
the supervisors and 
masters of works." 
{I}18_{/}After which 
Shaphan the secretary 
informed the king, 
"Hilkiah the priest has 
given me a book"; and 
Shaphan read from it in 
the king's presence.
{I}19_{/}When the king 
heard the book being 
read, he tore his 
garments, {I}20_{/}and 
gave the following order 
to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of 
Shaphan, Abdon son of 
Micah, Shaphan the 
secretary and Asaiah the 
king's minister, 
{I}21_{/}"Go and consult 
Yahweh, for me and for 
the people who still 
remain in Israel and 
Judah, about the words of 
the book that has been 
found. Great indeed must 
be the anger of Yahweh to 
be poured down on us 
because our ancestors did 
not observe the word of 
Yahweh nor do according 
to what is written in 
this book."
{I}22_{/}Hilkiah and the 
king's men went to Huldah 
the prophetess, wife of 
Shallum son of Tokhath, 
son of Hasrah, the keeper 
of the Temple robes; she 
lived in Jerusalem in the 
new town. They spoke to 
her about this, 
{I}23_{/}and she 
answered, "This is the 
word of Yahweh for the 
man who sent you to me: 
{I}24_{/}I am going to 
punish Jerusalem and all 
its people, carrying out 
all the curses written in 
the book that has been 
read in the presence of 
the king of Judah, 
{I}25_{/}because they 
have abandoned me and 
have burned incense to 
other gods, stirring up 
my anger by everything 
they have done. Because 
of this my anger is 
aroused against 
Jerusalem, and it will 
not die down.
{I}26_{/}And you will 
tell the king of Judah 
who sent you to consult 
Yahweh, that thus answers 
Yahweh, the God of 
Israel, regarding the 
words you have heard: 
{I}27_{/}Since your heart 
has been touched and you 
have humbled yourself 
before God on hearing 
what he has threatened 
against Jerusalem and 
those who live in it, 
since you have humbled 
yourself before me and 
torn your garments and 
wept before me, I for my 
part have heard - this is 
Yahweh's word. 
{I}28_{/}The punishment 
which I am going to bring 
on Jerusalem will not 
come until after your 
death. I will let you die 
in peace." They took this 
answer to the king.
{I}29_{/}The king then 
had all the elders of 
Judah and of Jerusalem 
summoned, {I}30_{/}and 
the king went up to 
Yahweh's House, with all 
the people of Judah and 
the inhabitants of 
Jerusalem, priests, 
Levites and all the 
people, great and small 
alike. In their hearing 
he read out everything 
that was said in the book 
of the covenant found in 
Yahweh's House. 
{I}31_{/}The king stood 
beside the pillar, and in 
the presence of Yahweh he 
made a covenant to follow 
Yahweh and to keep his 
laws and commands with 
all his heart and soul, 
as written in that book. 
{I}32_{/}He committed 
everyone there in 
Jerusalem or in Benjamin 
to obey the requirements 
of the covenant of God, 
the God of their 
ancestors. 
{I}33_{/}Josiah removed 
all the disgusting idols 
throughout the 
territories belonging to 
the people of Israel. For 
the rest of his life he 
made sure that every 
member of Israel served 
their God. They did not 
fail to follow Yahweh, 
the God of their 
ancestors. 
THE PASSOVER OF JOSIAH{/}

{1}35{/}

{I}1_{/}Josiah then 
celebrated a Passover in 
honor of Yahweh in 
Jerusalem and they killed 
the passover lamb on the 
fourteenth day of the 
first month. {I}2_{/}He 
appointed certain 
functions to the priests 
and let them discharge 
the duties of Yahweh's 
House. {I}3_{/}Then he 
said to the Levites, who 
were to instruct all 
Israel and who were 
consecrated to Yahweh, 
"The holy ark has been 
put in the house built by 
Solomon son of David, 
king of Israel, and it is 
no longer a burden for 
your shoulders. So you 
shall serve Yahweh your 
God and Israel your 
people in this way. 
{I}4_{/}Stand in the holy 
place by families and 
orders, according to the 
written decree of David 
king of Israel and his 
son Solomon, {I}5_{/}and 
let some be available to 
help each family of the 
people of Israel; for the 
Levites are to have a 
portion in each family. 
{I}6_{/}Kill the animals 
for the festival, 
sanctify yourselves, and 
be at the disposal of 
your brothers in acting 
in accordance with the 
word of Yahweh which was 
spoken through Moses."
{I}7_{/}Josiah then 
provided for the use of 
the people, lambs and 
kids from the flocks to 
the number of thirty 
thousand, all as Passover 
offerings for all who 
were present, and three 
thousand bulls as well; 
all these animals came 
from the king's 
possessions. {I}8_{/}His 
officials, for their 
part, made provision for 
what the people, the 
priests and the Levites 
would use. The senior 
officials of the house of 
God, Hilkiah, Zechariah 
and Jehiel, also gave the 
priests two thousand six 
hundred lambs and kids 
and three hundred bulls 
as Passover victims. 
{I}9_{/}The heads of the 
Levites, Conaniah, 
Shemaiah and his brothers 
Nathanel, Hashabiah, 
Jeiel and Jozabad, 
provided five thousand 
lambs and kids and five 
hundred bulls as Passover 
victims for the Levites.
{I}10_{/}When everything 
for the Passover had been 
prepared, the priests 
took their posts, and the 
Levites also in their 
orders as commanded by 
the king. {I}11_{/}They 
killed the lambs and 
goats, and while the 
priests sprinkled the 
blood they received, the 
Levites cut up the 
victims. {I}12_{/}They 
put aside the animals for 
the burnt offering and 
distributed to family 
groupings of the lay 
people, giving to each 
his offering to Yahweh, 
as is written in the Book 
of Moses; they did the 
same with the bulls. 
{I}13_{/}They roasted the 
passover, as ordained, 
and boiled the sacred 
foods in pots, dishes, 
and pans, carrying them 
speedily to the people. 
{I}14_{/}Afterward they 
prepared the passover for 
themselves and for the 
priests. Because the 
priests, the sons of 
Aaron, had been busy till 
nightfall offering the 
burnt offering and the 
fatty parts, the Levites 
prepared the passover for 
themselves and for the 
priests, the sons of 
Aaron. {I}15_{/}The 
musicians, the sons of 
Asaph, were at their 
places, in accordance 
with the ordinances of 
David; neither Asaph, 
Heman, Jeduthun the 
king's prophet, nor the 
keepers of each gate had 
to leave their duties, 
since their brothers the 
Levites made all the 
preparations for them.
{I}16_{/}So the whole 
service of Yahweh was 
prepared that day to 
celebrate the Passover 
and to offer burnt 
offerings on the altar of 
Yahweh, in accordance 
with the ordinances of 
King Josiah.
{I}17_{/}The Israelites 
who were present 
celebrated the Passover 
and, for seven days, the 
feast of Unleavened 
Bread. {I}18_{/}No 
Passover like this one 
had ever been celebrated 
in Israel since the days 
of the prophet Samuel; no 
king of Israel had ever 
celebrated a Passover 
like the one celebrated 
by Josiah with the 
priests, the Levites, all 
of Judah and of Israel 
who were present, and the 
people of Jerusalem.
THE TRAGIC END OF THE 
REIGN{/}

{I}19_{/}This Passover 
was celebrated in the 
eighteenth year of the 
reign of Josiah. 
{I}20_{/}After all this, 
when Josiah had already 
repaired the House, Neco 
king of Egypt came up to 
fight at Carchemish on 
the Euphrates and Josiah 
marched out to stop him. 
{I}21_{/}Neco sent him 
messengers to say, "There 
is no quarrel between me 
and you, king of Judah. I 
have not come today to 
attack you, but to fight 
my enemies, and God has 
told me to hurry. Do not 
oppose God who is with 
me, lest he destroy you."
{I}22_{/}But Josiah 
continued to challenge 
him for he was determined 
to fight him, and would 
not listen to what God 
was saying through Neco. 
So he went out to fight 
in the plain of Megiddo. 
{I}23_{/}Egyptian arrows 
struck King Josiah, and 
the king said to his 
followers, "Take me away; 
I am badly wounded." 
{I}24_{/}His servants 
lifted him out of his own 
chariot, transferred him 
to another one and took 
him back to Jerusalem, 
where he died. He was 
buried in the tombs of 
his ancestors. All Judah 
and Jerusalem mourned for 
Josiah. {I}25_{/}Jeremiah 
composed a lament for 
Josiah which all the 
women singers use when 
speaking of Josiah in 
their laments to this 
day; this has become a 
custom in Israel; the 
song is found in the 
collection of laments.
{I}26_{/}The rest of the 
history of Josiah and all 
his good deeds according 
to the Law, and his acts 
from the first to last, 
are recorded in the Book 
of the Kings of Israel 
and Judah. 
THE LAST KINGS{/}

{1}36{/}

{I}1_{/}The people of the 
nation took Jehoahaz, son 
of Josiah and made him 
king in Jerusalem in 
succession to his father. 
{I}2_{/}Jehoahaz was 
twenty-three years old 
when he became king and 
he reigned for three 
months in Jerusalem. 
{I}3_{/}The king of Egypt 
took him prisoner and 
made the people of Judah 
pay 7,500 pounds of 
silver and 75 pounds of 
gold as tribute. 
{I}4_{/}The king of Egypt 
then made Eliakim, 
brother of Jehoahaz, king 
of Judah and Jerusalem, 
and changed his name to 
Jehoiakim. Neco took his 
brother Jehoahaz to 
Egypt.
{I}5_{/}Jehoiakim was 
twenty-five years old 
when he became king and 
he reigned for eleven 
years in Jerusalem. He 
did what was evil in the 
eyes of Yahweh his God. 
{I}6_{/}Nebuchadnezzar 
king of Babylon attacked 
him, put him in chains 
and carried him off to 
Babylon. 
{I}7_{/}Nebuchadnezzar 
also carried off to 
Babylon some of the 
treasures of the House 
and put them in his 
palace at Babylon. 
{I}8_{/}The rest of the 
history of Jehoiakim, the 
disgusting things he did 
and those discovered to 
his discredit, these are 
recorded in the Book of 
Kings of Israel and 
Judah. His son Jehoiakim 
succeeded him.
{I}9_{/}Jehoiakim was 
eight years old when he 
became King and he 
reigned for three months 
and ten days in 
Jerusalem. He did what 
was evil in the eyes of 
Yahweh. {I}10_{/}When 
spring came, King 
Nebuchadnezzar sent for 
him and had him taken to 
Babylon as a prisoner, 
with the treasures of the 
temple and made Zedekiah, 
his brother, king of 
Judah and Jerusalem in 
his place.
{I}11_{/}Zedekiah was 
twenty-one years old when 
he became king and he 
reigned for eleven years 
in Jerusalem. {I}12_{/}He 
did what was evil in the 
eyes of Yahweh his God. 
He did not listen humbly 
to the prophet Jeremiah, 
accredited by Yahweh 
himself. {I}13_{/}He also 
rebelled against King 
Nebuchadnezzar who had 
forced him to swear in 
God's name that he would 
be loyal. He became 
stubborn, and obstinately 
refused to return to 
Yahweh the God of Israel.
CONCLUSION{/}

{I}14_{/}Furthermore, all 
the heads of the 
priesthood, and the 
people, too, were 
exceedingly unfaithful, 
following the disgusting 
example of the nations 
around them, and so they 
defiled the house which 
Yahweh himself had made 
holy. {I}15_{/}Yahweh, 
the God of their 
ancestors, continued to 
send prophets to warn his 
people, since he had 
compassion on them and on 
his dwelling place. 
{I}16_{/}But they mocked 
the messengers of God, 
ignored his words, and 
laughed at his prophets, 
until at last the anger 
of Yahweh rose so high 
against his people that 
there was no further 
remedy.
{I}17_{/}Then he brought 
against them the king of 
the Chaldeans who killed 
with the sword the young 
men of Judah even in the 
House; he spared neither 
youth nor virgin, neither 
old man nor aged cripple: 
God handed them all over 
to him. {I}18_{/}All the 
furnishings of the house 
of God, large and small, 
the treasures of Yahweh's 
House, the treasures of 
the king and his 
officials, he carried off 
to Babylon.
{I}19_{/}They burned down 
the house of God, broke 
down the walls of 
Jerusalem, set fire to 
all its palaces, and 
destroyed everything of 
value in it. {I}20_{/}The 
survivors were deported 
by Nebuchadnezzar to 
Babylon; they were to 
serve him and his 
descendants as slaves 
until the kingdom of 
Persia came to power. 
{I}21_{/}This is how the 
work of Yahweh was 
fulfilled that he spoke 
through Jeremiah, "The 
land will lie desolate 
for seventy years, to 
make up for its Sabbath 
rests that have not been 
observed."
{I}22_{/}And in the first 
year of Cyrus king of 
Persia, to fulfill what 
he had said through the 
prophet Jeremiah, Yahweh 
stirred up the spirit of 
Cyrus king of Persia to 
issue the following 
command and send it out 
in writing to be read 
aloud everywhere in his 
kingdom: {I}23_{/}"Thus 
speaks Cyrus king of 
Persia: Yahweh, the God 
of heaven, who has given 
me all the kingdoms of 
the earth, has ordered me 
to build him a house in 
Jerusalem, in Judah. Now, 
all of you who belong to 
his people, go there and 
may Yahweh your God be 
with you."

