 編下:1.(2ch) [編年紀下]    [2 Chronicles]   [共 36 章]   [思高聖經]
    
           三編撒羅滿建造聖殿（１－９）
    
 編下:1.1    [撒羅滿求智慧]  達味的兒子撒羅滿漸漸鞏固了自己的王位，上主，他的天主常與他同在，使他非常偉大。
 編下:1.2    撒羅滿命令全以色列，即千夫長、百夫長、判官，以及全以色列的首領和族長集合，
 編下:1.3    然後同全會眾往基貝紅高丘去，因為那裏有上主的僕人梅瑟，在曠野裏所做的天主的會幕。
 編下:1.4    但是，天主的約櫃，達味已由克黎雅特耶阿陵運到所預備的地方，因為他在耶路撒 冷為約櫃搭了一個帳幕。
 編下:1.5    胡爾的孫子，烏黎的兒子貝匝肋耳所製的銅壇，也在那裏，即在上主的會幕前。撒羅滿與會眾便去求問上主。
 編下:1.6    撒羅滿上到 會幕前的銅壇上，在上主面前，獻了一千犧牲，作為全燔祭。
 編下:1.7    那天夜裏天 主顯示給撒羅滿，對他說：「你不拘求什麼，我必要給你! 」
 編下:1.8    撒羅滿對天 主說：「你曾對我父親達味大施仁慈，使我繼他為王。
 編下:1.9    上主，天主! 現在唯願你向我父達味應許的話得以實現，因為你已立了我為王，治理一個多如 地上塵沙的民族。
 編下:1.10   現在，求你賜我智慧和聰明，好使我能在這民族面前出入，因為誰能統治你這樣大的一個民族﹖」
 編下:1.11   天主對撒羅滿說：「你既有此心願，沒有求富貴、財寶、光榮，也沒有要求你敵人的性命，也沒有要求長壽，只為自己求智慧和聰明，好能治理我的民族，即我使你為王所管理 的民族；
 編下:1.12   為此，智慧和聰明已賜予了你，但我還願將富貴和光榮賜予你，是你以前的君王從沒有過，你以後也不會再有的。」
 編下:1.13   以後撒羅滿由基 貝紅高丘，由會幕前回了耶路撒冷，治理以色列。
 編下:1.14   [撒羅滿的財富]  撒羅滿調集了戰車和騎兵，計戰車一千四百輛，騎兵一萬二千名，使他們駐守屯車 城，或在耶路撒冷君王左右。
 編下:1.15   君王在耶路撒冷積存的金銀多如石塊，香 柏木多如平原的桑樹。
 編下:1.16   撒羅滿所養的馬，都是來自慕茲黎和科厄，是君王的商人依照定價由科厄買來的。
 編下:1.17   他們由慕茲黎運來的車，每輛值遺六百「協刻耳；」馬，每匹值銀一百五十「協刻耳。」同樣，赫特諸王和阿蘭諸無所有的車馬，也都是經這些商人的手運來的。
 編下:1.18   [建殿的準備]  撒羅滿決定為上主的名建造聖殿，為自己修築王宮。
    
 編下:2.1    撒羅滿點派了七萬人作運夫，八萬人在山上鑿石，三千六百人作監工。
 編下:2.2    撒羅滿遣使向提洛王希蘭說：「有如你怎樣對待了我父達味，給他運來了香柏木，建造他居住的宮殿，也請你如此對待我。
 編下:2.3    我現今要為上主我的天主的名，建造一座聖殿，奉獻給他，在他面前焚燒芬芳的香料，永遠獻上供餅，每日早晚、安息日、月朔，以及上主我們天主的節日，奉獻全燔祭：這 為以色列人是永久的事。
 編下:2.4    我建造的殿宇必須廣大，因為我們的天父大於諸 神。
 編下:2.5    然而，誰有能力為他建造一座殿宇﹖天與諸天之天，尚容不下他。我是誰，竟能為他建造殿宇﹖不過只是為在他面前焚香罷了!
 編下:2.6    現在，請你給我派一位技師來，他要精於金、銀、銅、鐵，以及紫紅、朱紅、藍線等工作；並且還應會各種雕刻，好與我父親達味在猶大和耶路撒冷所準備的技術人 員一同工作。
 編下:2.7    請你由黎巴嫩給我運香柏、松柏和檀香木來，因為我知道你的僕人善於砍伐黎巴嫩的木材；我的僕人將與你的僕人一同工作。
 編下:2.8    他們要 為我大量預備木材，因為我要建造的殿宇極其廣大。
 編下:2.9    至於你那些伐木砍樹的僕人，我必供給他們食糧，小麥二萬「苛爾，」大麥二萬「苛爾，」酒兩萬「巴特，」油兩萬「巴特。」
 編下:2.10   [提洛王應允合作]  提洛王希蘭回信給撒 [羅滿說：「上主由於愛慕自己的百姓，所以立你作了他們的君王。」
 編下:2.11   希蘭又說：「創造天地的上主以色列的天主應受讚美! 因為他賜給了達味王一個智慧的兒子，聰明機敏，可為上主建造殿宇，為自己修築無宮。
 編下:2.12   我現在打發一個具有智慧和才學的人去，他名叫胡蘭阿彼，
 編下:2.13   是一丹支派女人的兒子，他父親是提洛人，他精於金、銀、銅、鐵、石、木紫色、紅色、藍 色、細麻，以及朱紅線各種工作，善於各種雕刻，又能設計各種托於他的技 工。這人可與你的技師和你父親我主達味的技師，一同工作。
 編下:2.14   我主談及的小麥、大麥、油和酒，請即運來分配給僕人。
 編下:2.15   我們必照你所需要的，在黎巴嫩砍伐樹木，編成木筏，由海上運到約培；以後你運到耶路撒冷。選派工匠
 編下:2.16   撒羅滿按照他父親達味所統計過的數目，又統計了住在以色列境內的一切外方人，共計十五萬三千六百人，
 編下:2.17   委派其中的七萬人作運夫，八萬人在山上鑿石，安千六百人作監工，督促人民工作。
    
 編下:3.1    [興工建殿]  撒羅滿在耶路撒冷，即在他父親達味看見異像的摩黎雅山上，在耶步斯人敖爾難的禾場上，達味所準備的地方，興工建造上主的聖殿 。
 編下:3.2    撒羅滿在即位後第四年二月興工建造。
 編下:3.3    撒羅滿為建造天主聖殿的基地，按照古尺度計算：長六十肘，寬爾十肘。
 編下:3.4    門廊的長度與聖殿的寬度相等，即二十肘，高二十肘，裏面全貼上純金。
 編下:3.5    大殿裏面先蓋上一層木板，再貼上純金，上面雕刻上棕樹和花環；
 編下:3.6    又以寶石點綴聖殿，甚是華麗；金子都是帕爾瓦因金。
 編下:3.7    正殿、棟樑、門限、牆壁，以及門扇，都貼上金子，牆上刻有革魯賓。
 編下:3.8    [至聖所]  以後，建造了至聖所，長度與聖殿的寬度相等，即二十肘，寬度也是二十肘；內部貼了六百「塔冷通」純金。
 編下:3.9    釘子重五十「協刻耳」金子；連樓閣也貼上了金子。
 編下:3.10   在至聖所內，以刻工刻了兩個革魯賓，外面包上了黃金；
 編下:3.11   革魯賓的翅膀，共長二十肘：這邊革魯賓的一個翅膀長五肘，伸至這邊殿牆；另一個翅膀也長五肘，與另一個革魯賓 的翅膀相接連。
 編下:3.12   這一個革魯賓的一個翅膀，也長五肘，伸至那邊殿牆；另一個翅膀也長五肘，與前一個革魯賓的翅膀相接連。
 編下:3.13   兩個革魯賓的翅膀都伸開，共長二十肘；他們雙足站立，面向聖殿。
 編下:3.14   又用藍線、紫線、紅線和細麻，作了一帳幔，上面繡上革魯賓。
 編下:3.15   [圓柱]  他又在殿前造了兩根柱子，共長三十肘；每根柱子頂上有柱帽，高五 肘。
 編下:3.16   又做了類似項鍊的花環，置於柱頭上；又作了一百個石榴，懸在花環 上。
 編下:3.17   把兩根柱子立在殿前，一左一右：右邊的叫雅津，左邊的叫波阿次。
    
 編下:4.1    [製造聖殿器皿]  以後，他製了一座銅壇，長二十肘，寬二十肘，高十肘。
 編下:4.2    又鑄了一個銅海，從這邊到那邊直徑十肘，作圓形，高五肘，圓周三十肘。
 編下:4.3    銅海邊緣下四周圍，圍繞著匏瓜形的裝飾品，每肘十個，分兩行，匏瓜與銅海是同時鑄成的。
 編下:4.4    有十二隻銅牛馱著銅海：三隻向北，三隻向西，三隻向南，三隻向東；銅海安放在銅牛背上，牛尾朝裏。
 編下:4.5    銅海厚一掌，邊如杯邊，形似百合花，可容三千「巴特。」
 編下:4.6    他又製了十個同盆：五個安置右邊，五個安置在左邊，作為洗滌之用，洗滌作全燔祭的物品；但銅海只可為司祭作洗滌之用。
 編下:4.7    又照所規定的式樣製了十個金燈台，放在殿內： 右邊五個，左邊五個。
 編下:4.8    又製了十張桌子，放在殿內：右邊五張，左邊五張 。又造了一百個金碗。
 編下:4.9    又造了司祭院與大院以及院門，門包市銅，
 編下:4.10   [他把銅海放在右邊東南角。]
 編下:4.11   [胡胡蘭所造的器具]  蘭也製了鍋、鏟和盤。胡蘭為撒羅滿王作了一切應為上主的殿所作的工作：
 編下:4.12   兩根柱子，兩個柱頂上的球形柱頭，兩個網子，─遮蓋柱頂上兩個球形的柱頭，
 編下:4.13   兩個網子上的四百個石榴，─每個網子有良行石榴，以遮蓋柱頂上兩個球形柱頭，
 編下:4.14   十個盆座及座上的十個銅盆，
 編下:4.15   一個銅海及下面十二隻銅牛，
 編下:4.16   鍋、鏟、鉤以及一切用具：這一切都是胡蘭阿彼用光滑的銅，給撒羅滿王為上主的殿所製造的，
 編下:4.17   是王在約但平原，於穌苛特與匝爾堂之間，用膠泥模鑄成的。
 編下:4.18   撒羅滿所製的這一切器皿，實在眾多；所用的銅，重量無法計算。
 編下:4.19   [其他器皿]  以後，撒羅滿又製造了上主殿內的一切用具：金壇和供餅的桌子，
 編下:4.20   燈台和依照規例應在內殿前點的燈盞，都是用純金製成的；
 編下:4.21   還有花蕊、燈盞和燭剪，都是用金，即純金製成的；
 編下:4.22   還有刀、碗、盤和火盤，都是純金的。殿宇的門，即進入至聖所內裏的門，以及聖殿，即正殿的門，也都是金的。
    
 編下:5.1    [聖殿落成]  撒羅滿為上主的殿所作的一切工作完成了以後，遂將他父親達味所奉獻的禮品，金銀和所有的器具運上來，存放在天主殿宇的府庫裏。
 編下:5.2    [迎約櫃入聖殿]  那時，撒羅滿召集以色列的長老，各支派的首領和以色列子民各家族長，到耶路撒冷，機上主的約櫃從達味城，即熙雍運上來。
 編下:5.3    以色列人於是在七月的節日，都聚集到君王那裏。
 編下:5.4    以色列所有的長老一來到，肋未人便抬起約櫃，
 編下:5.5    將約櫃和會幕內所有的聖器都抬上來；抬運的都是司祭和肋未人。
 編下:5.6    撒羅滿王和聚集在他那裏的以色列全會眾，在約櫃前宰殺了牛羊，多得無法計算，不可勝數。
 編下:5.7    司祭們將上主的約櫃抬到殿的內部，即至聖所內，放在革魯賓的翅膀下，那早已預備的地方。
 編下:5.8    革魯賓伸開翅膀遮在約櫃的所在之上，所以革魯賓在上面正遮著約櫃和抬櫃的扛桿。
 編下:5.9    這扛桿很長，扛頭從內殿前的聖所裏可以看見，在殿外卻看不見；直到今天還在那裏。
 編下:5.10   約櫃內除了兩塊石版，沒有別的東西：這是以色列子民出埃及後，上主與他們立約時，梅瑟在曷勒布山放在裏面的。
 編下:5.11   [上主顯示榮耀]  當司祭從聖所出來時，─因為所有在場的司祭都自潔過，未分班次，
 編下:5.12   全體歌唱的肋未人，阿撒夫、赫曼、耶杜通，和他們的兒子以及他們同族的弟兄，一律穿著細麻的衣服，站在祭壇的東面，擊鈸、鼓瑟、彈琴；同他們 在一起的，尚有一百二十位司祭吹號筒，─
 編下:5.13   吹號筒的和歌唱的人都同聲 同調讚美上主。當他們配合號筒鐃鈸和各種樂器，高聲讚美上主說：「因為 他是聖善的，因為他的仁慈永遠常存」時，雲彩充滿了聖殿，即上主的殿，
 編下:5.14   致使司祭由於雲彩不能繼續奉職，因為上主的光榮充滿了天主的殿。
    
 編下:6.1    當時撒羅滿說：「上主曾決定：要住在幽暗之中；
 編下:6.2    我卻為你建築了一個居所，作為你永久的住處」。
 編下:6.3    [撒羅滿的訓辭]  撒羅滿轉過臉來，祝福了以色列全會眾；以色列全會眾都站著，
 編下:6.4    撒羅滿說：「上主，以色列的天主，應受讚美! 他親口對我父親達味應許過，也親手完成了說：
 編下:6.5    自從我領我的百姓出離埃及地的那天起，沒有在以色列各支派中，選擇一城，為建造一座作我名下的殿，也沒有揀選一個人作領袖，管理我的百姓以色列。
 編下:6.6    可是，我選擇了耶路撒冷作為安置我名之處，揀選了達味管理我的百姓以色列。
 編下:6.7    我父親達味原有意為上主以色列天主的名建造一座殿，
 編下:6.8    但上主卻對我父親達味說：你有意為我的名建造一座殿，你這番心意固然很好，
 編下:6.9    但不是你要建造這殿，而是你親生的兒子，他要為我的名建造這殿。
 編下:6.10   現在上主實現了他所說的話，使我來繼承了我父親達味，坐上了以色列的寶座，正如上主所預許的；我也為上主以色列天主的名建造了這座殿，
 編下:6.11   將約櫃安放在裏面；約櫃內有上主與以色列子民所立的約版。」
 編下:6.12   [祈禱詞]  以後，撒羅滿當著以色列全會眾的面，站在上主的祭壇前，伸開手，─
 編下:6.13   因為撒羅滿製造了一座銅台，長五肘，寬五肘，高三肘，安置在庭院中央，他立 在上面，當著以色列全會眾的面，屈膝跪拜，舉手向天，─
 編下:6.14   說「上主，以色列的天主! 上天下地，沒有一個神可與你相比。你對那些一心在你面前 行走的僕人，常是遵守信約，表示慈愛。
 編下:6.15   你對你僕人，我父親達味所應許的，你都履行了；你親口應許的，你也親手成就了，正如今天一樣。
 編下:6.16   上主，以色列的天主! 你曾說：只要你的子孫謹守他們的道路，按照我的法律行走，如你在我面前行走一樣，你決斷不了在我前坐以色列王位的人；現在求你實踐你對你僕人，我父親達味所說的話罷!
 編下:6.17   上主，以色列的天主，現在求你使你向你僕人達味所應許過的話，予以實現罷!
 編下:6.18   天主實在與人住在地上嗎﹖看，天和天上的天，尚且容不下你，何況我所建造的這座殿宇呢!
 編下:6.19   上主，我的天主，請垂允你僕人的祈禱和懇求! 俯聽你僕人在你面前所發的呼號和祈禱!
 編下:6.20   願你的眼睛晝夜垂視這座殿，看顧你所說，你要安置你名的地方；求你垂聽你僕人向這地方所行的祈禱!
 編下:6.21   願你垂聽你僕人與你百姓以色列向這地方所發的哀禱，求你從天上，由你的居所，予以垂聽，垂聽和寬恕!
 編下:6.22   若有人得罪了自己的鄰人，被迫以咒詞起誓，而來到這殿內，在你祭壇前起誓，
 編下:6.23   求你由天上垂聽受理，為你的僕人伸冤：懲治惡人，照他所行的，報應在他頭上；宣告義人無罪，照他的正義酬報他。
 編下:6.24   如果你的百姓以色列，因為得罪了你，在敵人面前被擊敗；他們如果回心轉意稱頌你的名，在這殿內向你祈禱懇求，
 編下:6.25   願你從天上予以垂聽，寬恕你百姓以色列的罪，領他們回到你賜給他們並他們祖先的地方!
 編下:6.26   幾時他們犯罪得罪了你，天空閉塞不雨，你懲罰了他們；他們如果向這地方祈禱，稱頌你的名，遠離罪過，
 編下:6.27   求你從天上垂聽，赦免你僕人及你百姓以色列的罪，指給他們應走的正路，使雨降仔你賜予你百姓作為基業的地上 。
 編下:6.28   如果此地發生饑饉、瘟疫，五穀枯萎生霉，或遭受蝗蟲或螞蚱，或有敵人犯境圍困門下，或不拘遭受什麼災禍疾病，
 編下:6.29   你的百姓以色列，個人或團體，如果感覺內疚和痛苦，而向這殿伸出手來祈禱哀求，
 編下:6.30   願你從天上，你的居所，予以俯聽寬恕，照每人的一切行為，予以賞報，因為你認識 每個人的心，─唯有你認識人子的心，
 編下:6.31   使他們在你賜予我們祖先的地上，一生一世敬畏你，在你的道路上行走!
 編下:6.32   至於那不屬於你百姓以色列的外方人，為了你的大名，你有力的手及伸開的臂，自遠方來，在這殿內祈禱 ，
 編下:6.33   願你從天上，你的居所垂聽，按照外方人所請求於你的去行! 這樣，可使地上萬民都認識你的名，敬畏你，如同你的百姓以色列一樣；使他們知道我所建造的這殿，是屬於你名下的。
 編下:6.34   你的人民，如果在你派遣他們走的路上與敵人交戰，而他們向你所揀選的這城，向我為你的名所建造的這殿 ，祈求你，
 編下:6.35   願你從天上俯聽他們的祈禱和哀求，維護他們的正義!
 編下:6.36   如果他們犯罪得罪了你，─因為沒有不犯罪的人，─你向他們發怒，將他們交於仇敵，讓敵人將他們擄到遠方或近處。
 編下:6.37   他們若在被擄往的地方，回心轉意，在充軍之地，懇求你說：我們犯了罪，我們作了惡，做了背理的事；
 編下:6.38   如果他們在被擄充軍之地，全心全意歸向你，向你賜給他們祖先的地方，向你所揀選的這城，向我為你的名所建造的這殿祈禱，
 編下:6.39   願你從天上，你的居所，垂聽他們的祈禱和懇求，維護他們的正義，寬恕得罪你的百 姓!
 編下:6.40   現在，我的天主，願你的眼睛睜著，側耳諦聽在這地方所行的祈禱!
 編下:6.41   現在，上主天主，願你起來，願你與你那大能的約櫃進入你安息之所! 上主天主，願你的司祭身披救援，願你的聖徒在幸福中歡樂!
 編下:6.42   上主天主，求你不要摒棄你的受傅者，記念你賜予你僕人達味的慈愛! 」
    
 編下:7.1    [祝聖聖殿]  撒羅滿祈禱完了，有火從天上降下，焚燒了全燔祭和其他的犧牲；上主的榮耀充滿了聖殿。
 編下:7.2    由於上主的榮耀充滿了上主的殿，司祭不能進入上主的殿。
 編下:7.3    所有的以色列子民看見有火降下，上主的榮耀充滿了聖殿，便俯伏在石鋪的地上，叩拜稱頌上主說：「因為他是聖善的，因為他的仁慈永遠常存。」
 編下:7.4    君王和眾百姓在上主面前祭殺了犧牲。
 編下:7.5    撒羅滿王那時祭殺了二萬二千頭牛，十二萬隻羊；這樣君王和全百姓為上主的聖殿行了奉獻禮。
 編下:7.6    司祭各站在自己的岡位上，肋未人拿著達味王所製的上主的樂器，奏「因為他的仁慈永遠常存」稱頌上主的歌；這讚美歌是達味令他們唱的；司祭們面對著他們吹號筒，同時全以色列人都站立不動。
 編下:7.7    撒羅滿祝聖了上主殿前的內院，在那裏，獻了全燔祭與和平祭的脂油，因為他製造的銅壇容不下那麼多全燔祭、素祭和脂油。
 編下:7.8    那時，撒羅滿舉行慶節七天之久，所有的哈瑪特渡口到埃及小河的以色列百姓，都與他在一起，實是一大集會。
 編下:7.9    第八天又舉行了盛大的集會，如此舉行獻壇七天，過節七天。
 編下:7.10   七月二十三日，君王遣散了民眾。他們因上主對達味、撒羅滿和他的百姓以色列所施的恩惠，都滿懷歡樂，回了自己的帳幕。
 編下:7.11   [上主的俯允與警告]  撒羅滿完成了上主的殿和王宮，凡撒羅滿心中要在上主的殿和自己的宮內所作的，都順利完成了。
 編下:7.12   夜間上主顯示給撒羅滿，對他說：「我已聽了你的祈禱，我也為我揀選了這地方作為祭祀的大殿。
 編下:7.13   我如果使天閉塞不雨，使蝗蟲吞吃這地，或使瘟疫在我百姓中間流行，
 編下:7.14   這稱為我名下的百姓，如果謙遜祈禱，尋求我的面，遠離自己的惡行，我必從天上俯聽，寬恕他們的罪過，使他們的土地生產。
 編下:7.15   自今以後，我必睜眼垂顧，側耳諦聽在此處發出 的祈禱。
 編下:7.16   現今我已選擇這殿，予以祝聖，使我的名永遠在這殿中；我的眼和我的心，也時時留在那裏。
 編下:7.17   至於你，如果你在我面前行走，像你父親達味那樣行走，遵行我吩咐你的一切，恪守我的法律和典章，
 編下:7.18   我必鞏固你的王位，一如我應許你父親達味所說：你的子孫中，決斷不了有人作以色列的統治者。
 編下:7.19   但是，如果你們遠離我，離棄我在你們前所頒布的法律和誡命，而去服侍敬拜別的神，
 編下:7.20   我必將你們從我賜予你們的地上根除，且要拋棄這座為我名而祝聖的殿，毫不顧惜，使它成為萬民的笑話和話柄。
 編下:7.21   這殿雖然宏大，凡經過的人必將驚愕說：上主為什麼這樣對待了這地方和這座殿﹖
 編下:7.22   人必回答說：是因為他們離棄了領他們出離埃及地的上主，他們祖先的天主，而歸依、崇拜、服侍了別的神；為此，上主使這一切災禍臨到他們身上。」
    
 編下:8.1    [撒羅滿的其他建設]  撒羅滿建造上主的殿和自己的王宮歷時二十年；二十年過後，
 編下:8.2    撒羅滿又重建了希蘭還給他的城邑，令以色列子民住在那裏 。
 編下:8.3    此後，撒羅滿到了哈瑪特祚巴，征服了那地。
 編下:8.4    又修建了在曠野裏的 塔德摩爾，在哈瑪特四周修築了儲藏城。
 編下:8.5    又修築了上貝特曷龍和下貝特曷龍，作為有牆有門有閂的設防城。
 編下:8.6    又建築了巴阿拉特和所屬於撒羅滿的儲藏城，以及一切屯車城和騎兵城；凡撒羅滿願意在耶路撒冷、黎巴嫩以及他所管轄的境內所要建設的，都已建設了。
 編下:8.7    至於其餘的人民，即那些不屬以色列的赫特人、阿摩黎人、培黎齊人、希威人和耶步斯人，
 編下:8.8    以色列子民沒有消滅，而他們凡留在此地的子孫，撒羅滿都徵來充作苦役，直到今天仍是如此。
 編下:8.9    撒羅滿並沒有使以色列子民為他的工作擔任苦役，因為他們是他的戰士、將官、戰車長和騎兵長。
 編下:8.10   撒羅滿的監察官，共有二百五十人，監 管百姓。
 編下:8.11   撒羅滿又將法郎的女兒，從達味城搬到為她建築的宮中，因為他說：「連我的妻子，也不可住在以色列王達味的宮中，因為上主約櫃所到的地方是聖地。」
 編下:8.12   那時，撒羅滿在上主的祭壇上，即他在門廊前所築的祭壇上，向上主獻了全燔祭；
 編下:8.13   並按梅瑟的吩咐，在安息日、新月和每年的三個節期：無酵節、七七節和帳棚節，奉獻每日應獻的祭品。
 編下:8.14   它又照他父親達味的規定，為司祭派定了班次，各盡其職；又規定了肋未人的任務，令他們負責讚頌；照每日的定例，在司祭前服務；又派定了門丁，按照他們的班次守衛各門，因為天主的人達味是如此命令的。
 編下:8.15   君王對司祭和肋未人所吩咐的任何職務，以及管理府庫的事，他們都沒有違抗。
 編下:8.16   由上主的殿奠基之日起，以迄完成，撒羅滿的一切工作完備無缺；上主的殿於是告成。
 編下:8.17   此後，撒羅滿往厄東地，到了濱海的厄茲雍革貝爾及厄拉特。
 編下:8.18   希蘭派遣自己的臣僕給他送來了船隻和善於航海的人；他們與撒羅滿的僕人同往敖非爾去，從那裏裝載了黃金四百五十「塔冷通，」運到撒羅滿王那裏。
    
 編下:9.1    [舍巴女王來訪撒羅滿]  舍巴女王聽見了撒羅滿的聲譽，就來到耶路撒冷，考問灑羅滿一些難題；陪從她的人很多，駱駝馱著許多香料、黃金和寶石；進見撒羅滿時，便將所有的心思都對他說了出來。
 編下:9.2    撒羅滿對她所問的一切難題，一一給她解答了，沒有一樣可難住撒羅滿，而不能給她解答的。
 編下:9.3    舍巴女王看見了撒羅滿的智慧和所建造的宮殿，
 編下:9.4    筵席上的餚饌，群臣的坐次，僕從的侍候和服裝，酒正與酒正的服裝，和在上主殿內的全燔祭，驚訝得出神，
 編下:9.5    遂對君王說：「關於你的作為和智慧，我在我國內所聽到的，的確是真的。
 編下:9.6    以前我原不相信這些傳聞，及至我來親眼見了，纔知人告訴我的還不及你偉大智慧的一半；你實在超越了我所聽聞的。
 編下:9.7    你的妻妾是有福的，你的臣僕是有福的，能常侍立在你面前，聆聽你的智慧。
 編下:9.8    上主，你的天主應受讚美! 他喜愛你，使你坐在他的王位，代上主你的天主為王；因為你的天主愛慕以色列，要永遠保持他們，所以使你作他們的王，來秉公行義。」
 編下:9.9    舍巴女王遂將一百二十「塔冷通」黃金，大批香料和寶石，贈送給君王：舍巴女王贈給撒羅滿王的香料這樣多，是從來未有過的。
 編下:9.10   從敖非爾運金子的希蘭的僕人和撒羅滿的僕人，也運來了檀香木和寶石。
 編下:9.11   君王用檀香木為上主的殿和王宮製造了欄杆，為歌詠者製造了琴瑟；像這樣的東西，在猶大地方從來沒有見過。
 編下:9.12   凡舍巴女王所願所求的，撒羅滿都奉送給她；此外，尚有君王為酬謝她贈送的禮品；以後她和她的僕人回了本國。
 編下:9.13   [撒羅滿的富貴榮華]  撒羅滿每年收入的金子，重量有六百六十「塔冷通，」
 編下:9.14   商人小販所運來的，以及阿拉伯的儲王和本國太守給撒羅滿所進獻的金銀，尚不計算在內。
 編下:9.15   撒羅滿王又用鎚打的金子，作了二百個盾牌，每個用鎚打的金子六百「協刻耳。」
 編下:9.16   又用鎚打的金子，作了三百小盾牌，美個用金三百「協刻耳；」君王把這些盾牌都懸掛仔黎巴嫩林宮。
 編下:9.17   君王又用象牙製造了一個大寶座，用純金包鑲。
 編下:9.18   寶座有六級台階，座背後有一隻金羔羊，座位兩邊有扶手，扶手兩旁立著兩隻獅子。
 編下:9.19   六級台階上立有十二隻獅子，美級兩個，一左一右；在任何國家從沒有過這樣的製造法。
 編下:9.20   撒羅滿王所有的飲器，都是金的；黎巴嫩林宮的器具，都是純金的；撒羅滿時代，銀是不值什麼的。
 編下:9.21   原來君王的船隻與希蘭的僕人一同去塔爾史士；去塔爾史士的船隻，每三年往返一次，運來金銀象牙，猿猴和孔雀。
 編下:9.22   這樣，撒羅滿王的富貴和智慧，超過了世上所有的君王。
 編下:9.23   世上所有的君王都想見撒羅滿的面，聽聽天主賦予他心中的智慧；
 編下:9.24   各人帶來自己的禮物：銀器、金器、衣服、兵器、香料、騾馬，年年都是如此。
 編下:9.25   撒羅滿有四千廄，為養馬存車，有一萬二千騎兵，駐紮在屯車城和耶路撒冷君王左右。
 編下:9.26   撒羅滿統轄列王，由大河到培肋舍特人領域，直到 埃及邊陲。
 編下:9.27   君王在耶路撒冷有的銀子，多如石頭，香柏木多如平原的桑樹。
 編下:9.28   撒羅滿所有的馬，都是由慕茲黎和各地運來的。
 編下:9.29   [撒羅滿逝世]  撒羅滿其餘的前後事蹟，都記載在先知納堂的言行錄，史羅人阿希雅的預言書和先見者依多論及乃巴特之子雅洛貝罕的啟示錄上。
 編下:9.30   撒羅滿在耶路撒冷作全以色列王凡四十年。
 編下:9.31   撒羅滿與他的列祖同眠，葬在他父親達味城內；他的兒子勒哈貝罕繼位為王。
    
 編下:10.1   [南北分裂]  勒哈貝罕去了舍根，因為全以色列人集合在舍根，要立他為王。
 編下:10.2   乃巴特的兒子雅絡貝罕，─為躲避撒羅滿王，曾逃往埃及，─一聽見這事，便從埃及回來，
 編下:10.3   有人派人去請了他來，他便和全以色列人前來對勒哈貝罕說：
 編下:10.4   「你的父親使我們的負擔繁重，現在請你減輕你父親加給我們的苦役喊重軛，我們縩肯服事你! 」
 編下:10.5   他回答他們說：「三天以後，你們再來見我。」人民都走了。
 編下:10.6   勒哈貝罕王同那些在他父親撒羅滿生時作臣僕的老年人商議，問他們說：「你們有什麼主意，叫我好答覆這些人民﹖」
 編下:10.7   他們回答說：「如果你今日善待這些百姓，使他們心悅，向他們說好話，他們必會常常服事你。」
 編下:10.8   但是，君王竟拒絕老年人給他出的主意，反去同那些與他一同長大，侍立在他面前的少年人商議，
 編下:10.9   問他們說：「這些人民對我說：請你將你父親給我們加給我們的負擔減輕些。你們有什麼主意，好使我答覆他們﹖」
 編下:10.10  那些與他一同長大的少年人答說：「這些百姓曾對你說：你父親曾加重我們的負擔，請你給我們減輕些。你要這樣回答他們，這樣對他們說：我的小指比我父親的腰還粗；
 編下:10.11  我父親曾加給你你們重擔，我更要加重你們的負擔；我父親用鞭子責打你們，我卻要用鐵刺鞭責打你們。」
 編下:10.12  雅洛貝罕和全人民照君王所說「你們第三天再來見我」的話，第三天來見勒哈貝罕王。
 編下:10.13  嚴厲答覆了人民；勒哈貝罕王拋棄了老年人的意見，
 編下:10.14  依照少年人的主張答覆人民說：「我的父親加重了你們的負擔，我更要加重；我父親用鞭子責打你們，我要用鐵刺鞭責打你們。」
 編下:10.15  君王始終不肯聽從人民；這種轉變原是出於天主，為實現上主藉史羅人阿希雅論及乃巴特的兒子雅洛貝罕所說的話。
 編下:10.16  全以色列人見王不肯依從他們，便回覆君王說：「我們與達味有什麼分子﹖我們與葉瑟的兒子毫無關係! 以色列! 回到你的帳幕去! 達味現在你只顧你本家罷! 」於是全以色列人都回了自己的帳幕，
 編下:10.17  只那些住在猶大城內的以色列子民，歸勒哈貝罕統治。
 編下:10.18  勒哈貝罕王派遣監管勞役的阿多蘭去見以色列，以色列子民卻用石頭將他砸死；勒哈貝罕王急忙上車，逃回了耶路撒冷。
 編下:10.19  這樣，以色列叛離達味王朝，直到現在。
    
 編下:11.1   [上主禁止進攻以色列]  勒哈貝罕一回到耶路撒冷，即刻召集猶大和本雅明家族中十八萬善戰的精兵，去攻打以色列，想把王國奪回，再歸屬勒哈貝罕。
 編下:11.2   但是，上主有話傳於天主的人舍瑪雅說：
 編下:11.3   「你去告訴撒羅滿的兒子猶大王勒哈貝罕，及所有猶大和本雅明的以色列人說：
 編下:11.4   上主這樣說：你們不可前去攻打你們的弟兄! 你們各人回本家罷! 因為這事是出於我。」他們便聽從上主的話，都回去了，沒有去攻打雅洛貝罕。
 編下:11.5   [勒哈貝罕加強防]  禦工事勒哈貝罕住在耶路撒冷，在猶大修築了各成的防禦工事，
 編下:11.6   即修築了白冷、厄坦、特科亞、
 編下:11.7   貝特族爾、索苛、阿杜藍、
 編下:11.8   加特、瑪勒沙、齊弗、
 編下:11.9   阿多蘭、拉基士、阿則卡、
 編下:11.10  祚辣、阿雅隆和赫貝龍：這些都是猶大和本雅明境內設防的城。
 編下:11.11  他加強鞏固這些城，派軍駐守，儲備食糧，酒、油；
 編下:11.12  各城內又備有干戈，使之極其堅固，為統治猶大和本雅明。
 編下:11.13  [聖職人員來歸]  凡以色列所有的司祭和肋未人都由各地歸勒哈貝罕。
 編下:11.14  肋未人離開自己的牧場和產業，來到猶大和耶路撒冷，是因為雅洛貝罕和他的兒子們拒絕他們充當司祭，服事上主，
 編下:11.15  而另為高丘、公山羊像和自己所製的牛犢委派了司祭。
 編下:11.16  為此，以色列各支派中，凡專心尋求上主以色列天主的，都隨那些肋未人到了耶路撒冷，向上主他們祖先的天主奉獻犧牲。
 編下:11.17  如此，這般人加強了猶大的國勢，使撒羅滿的兒子勒哈貝罕有了勢力，凡三年之久，因為他們在三年之中，遵循了達味和撒羅滿的道路。
 編下:11.18  [勒哈貝罕的家室]  勒哈貝罕取了達味之子耶黎摩特的女兒，亦即葉瑟之子厄里雅布的女兒阿彼海耳的女兒瑪哈拉特為妻。
 編下:11.19  瑪哈拉特給他生的兒子，即耶烏士、舍瑪黎雅和匝罕。
 編下:11.20  以後，他又娶了阿貝沙隆的外孫女瑪阿加，她生了阿彼雅，阿泰、齊匝和舍羅米特。
 編下:11.21  勒哈貝罕共娶了十八個妻子，六十個妾侍，生了二十八個兒子，六十個女兒；但他愛阿貝沙龍的外孫女瑪阿加，超過其他的妻妾。
 編下:11.22  勒哈貝罕遂將瑪阿加的兒子阿彼雅立為儲君，為眾兄弟之長，有意立他為王。
 編下:11.23  勒哈貝罕作事聰明，將他所有的兒子分派在猶大和本雅明全境所有設防的城內，供給他們豐富食糧，並給他們娶了許多妻妾。
    
 編下:12.1   [埃及王進攻猶大]  勒哈貝罕的國家一強盛，勢力一鞏固，即捨棄了上主的法律，全以色列人也附和他。
 編下:12.2   由於他們背叛了上主，勒哈貝罕第五年，埃及王史沙克就上來進攻耶路撒冷，
 編下:12.3   率領一千二百輛戰車，六萬騎兵，和同他一起由埃及來的無數利比亞人，穌基因人和雇士人組成的軍隊，
 編下:12.4   攻取了猶大境內所有的堅城，直逼耶路撒冷。
 編下:12.5   當時，猶大的眾首領，由於逃避史沙克，都已聚集在耶路撒冷；先知舍瑪雅來見勒哈貝罕和眾首領，對他們說：「上主這樣說：你們既離棄我，我也將你們拋棄在史沙克手中。」
 編下:12.6   以色列眾首領和君王便自卑認罪說：「上主是公義的! 」
 編下:12.7   上主見他們自卑認罪，上主就有話傳於舍瑪雅說：「他們既然自卑認罪，我必不消滅他們，霎時間我要施救，不使我的盛怒藉沙史克發洩在耶路撒冷。
 編下:12.8   雖然如此，他們仍必作史沙克的僕役，好使他們知道服事我與服事世上的列邦，有何區別。」
 編下:12.9   埃及王史沙克於是上來進攻耶路撒冷，劫去了上主殿內和王宮內的寶物，全部帶走，連撒羅滿所製的金盾牌也都帶去了。
 編下:12.10  勒哈貝罕王，只得製造些銅盾牌來代替，交給防衛長保管。
 編下:12.11  每逢王進入上主的殿時，侍衛便從來，手持這些盾牌；事後仍將盾牌送回侍衛室。
 編下:12.12  由於君王自卑認罪，上主對他息怒，沒有完全將他消滅；何況在猶大還有善事。
 編下:12.13  [勒哈貝罕逝世]  勒哈貝罕王在耶路撒冷又漸強盛，繼續為王；他登極時年四十一歲，在上主從以色列各支派中選出歸他名下的耶路撒冷城中，作王十七年；他的母親名叫納阿瑪，是阿孟人。
 編下:12.14  勒哈貝罕行為邪惡，因為他沒有專心致志尋求上主。
 編下:12.15  勒哈貝罕的前後事蹟都按著族譜記載在先知舍瑪雅和先見者依多的言行錄上。勒哈貝罕與雅洛貝罕之間不斷發生戰爭。
 編下:12.16  勒哈貝罕與列祖同眠，葬在達味城；他的兒子阿彼雅繼位為王。
    
 編下:13.1   [阿彼雅為王]  雅洛貝罕王十八年，阿彼雅登極作猶大王，
 編下:13.2   在耶路撒冷作王三年，他母親名叫瑪阿加，是基貝亞人烏黎耳的女兒。阿彼雅與雅洛貝罕之間不斷發生戰爭。
 編下:13.3   [南北戰爭]  當時阿彼雅統率四十萬英勇的精兵出戰，雅洛貝罕率領八十萬健壯的精兵列陣出迎。
 編下:13.4   阿彼雅立在厄弗辣因山地的責瑪辣因山崗說：「雅洛貝罕和全以色列人，請聽我的話：
 編下:13.5   上主以色列的天主，曾立鹽約，將以色列王位永遠賜予達味和他的子孫，莫非你們不知道嗎﹖
 編下:13.6   無奈達味的兒子撒羅滿的一個僕人，乃巴特的兒子雅洛貝罕起來背叛了他的主人。
 編下:13.7   遂有一些無賴匪徒聚集起來，跟隨他攻擊撒羅滿的兒子勒哈貝罕；勒哈貝罕當年尚年輕脆弱，不能抵禦他們。
 編下:13.8   現在，你們企圖反抗達味子孫佔有的上主的國家，因為你們人數眾多，在你們中間且有雅洛貝罕製作的金牛作為你們的神。
 編下:13.9   你們不是驅逐了上主的司祭，亞郎的子孫和肋未人，依照列邦民族的習慣，為自己另立了司祭嗎﹖任何一個人，只要牽一隻工牛犢和七隻公綿羊前去，自行祝聖，便可作那本不是神的司祭。
 編下:13.10  至於我們，上主是我們的天主，我們沒有離棄過他；事奉上主的司祭仍是亞郎的子孫，肋未人仍各盡己責，
 編下:13.11  每日早晚向上主獻全燔祭，焚香，在清潔的桌子上陳設供餅，每晚點燃金燈台上的金燈。我們如此遵守了上主我們天主的職守，你們反而離棄了他。
 編下:13.12  但是天主與我們在一起，作我們的前導；他的司祭手持警號，就要鳴號向你們進攻。以色列子民，你們不可與上主你們祖先的天主交戰! 你們決不會勝利! 」
 編下:13.13  但是雅洛貝罕卻使伏兵繞到猶大背後，這樣以色列人在猶大人前面，伏兵在他們背後。
 編下:13.14  猶大人一轉身，見自己前後受敵，便呼籲上主，司祭們吹起號角，
 編下:13.15  猶大人就高聲吶喊。當猶大人吶喊時，天主在阿彼雅和猶大人前擊潰了雅洛貝罕和全以色列人。
 編下:13.16  以色列人便由猶大前逃走，天主將他們交在猶大人手中。
 編下:13.17  阿彼雅和他的軍隊對以色列大加殺戮，以色列被殺，喪亡的精兵有五十萬。
 編下:13.18  這一次以色列子民大敗，猶大子民獲得大勝，因為他們依靠了上主他們祖先的天主。
 編下:13.19  阿彼雅追擊雅洛貝罕，奪取了他的幾座城；貝特耳及所屬村鎮，耶沙納及所屬村鎮，厄斐龍及所屬村鎮。
 編下:13.20  阿彼雅在時，雅洛貝罕再沒有強盛起來；此後，上主打擊了他，他便去了世。
 編下:13.21  [阿彼雅逝世]  阿彼雅日漸強盛，娶了十四個妻妾，生了二十二個兒子，十六個女兒。
 編下:13.22  阿彼雅其餘得事蹟和他的言行，都記載在先見者依多傳記上。
 編下:13.23  阿彼雅與列祖同眠，葬仔達味城；他的兒子阿撒繼位為王。他在位時，國內平安了十年。
    
 編下:14.1   [阿撒的熱誠和努力]  阿撒行了上主他的天主視為善，視為正直得事，
 編下:14.2   除掉了外邦的祭壇和高丘，毀壞了柱像，拆除了木偶，
 編下:14.3   並命令猶大應尋求上主他們祖先的天主，遵行他的法律和誡命，
 編下:14.4   也鏟除了猶大各城內的高丘和太陽柱。那時，國家在他統治下安享太平。
 編下:14.5   他又在猶大修築了幾座堅城，因為境內平靖，數年沒有戰爭，上主賜予他平安。
 編下:14.6   阿撒對猶大人說：「我們必須建築這些城邑，四周建築城垣堡壘，安置大門和門閂；地域仍屬我們，是因為我們尋求了上主，我們的天主。我們既尋求了他，他便使我們四境平靖。」於是他們興工建築，事事順利。
 編下:14.7   阿撒的軍隊，持盾持戈的猶大人三十萬，持牌挽弓的本雅明人二十八萬：這些人都是勇士。
 編下:14.8   [則辣黑進攻失敗]  那時，雇士人則辣黑率領百萬大軍，戰車三百輛，前來進攻，到了瑪勒沙。
 編下:14.9   阿撒出來迎戰，陳兵在離瑪勒沙不遠的責法達山谷。
 編下:14.10  阿撒呼籲上主他的天主說：「上主! 在強弱懸殊之下，無人能似你能協助。上主，我們的天主! 求你協助我們，因為我們只有依賴你，奉你的名來迎擊這支大軍。上主，你是我們的天主，不要讓人勝過你! 」
 編下:14.11  於是上主在阿撒和猶大人前打擊了雇士人，雇士人遂逃走。
 編下:14.12  阿撒帶著跟隨他的軍民，追擊他們直到革辣爾。雇士人甚至沒有一個活的，都喪亡了，因為他們為上主和他的軍隊擊潰。猶大人奪取了很多財物。
 編下:14.13  他們又攻破了革辣爾四周所有的城池，因為上主的恐怖籠罩了這些城池；猶大人又將所有的城擄掠一空，因為城中有許多財物。
 編下:14.14  隨後又毀壞了群畜的圍欄，掠取了許多羊群和駱駝，便回耶路撒冷去了。
    
 編下:15.1   [阿匝黎雅的預言]  那時，天主的神感動了敖德得的兒子阿匝黎雅，
 編下:15.2   他便出來迎接阿撒，對他說：「阿撒，全猶大和本雅明人，請聽我的話：幾時你們與上主同在，上主也與你們同在；如果你們尋求他，他必讓你們尋到；但如果你們離棄他，他必離棄你們。
 編下:15.3   將有一段長時期，以色列沒有真天主，沒有教導的司祭，也沒有法律；
 編下:15.4   但他們在遭離期間，必回心歸向上主，以色列的天主，必尋求他，他必讓他們尋到。
 編下:15.5   在那時期內，出入的人，都必得不到平安，各地所有的居民，必要遭受很大的混亂：
 編下:15.6   這族攻擊那族，這城攻擊那城，因為天主必用種種災禍難為他們。
 編下:15.7   至於你們，你們應當堅強，你們的手不要發軟，因為你們的作為必獲得賞報。」
 編下:15.8   [阿撒的宗教改革]  阿撒一聽見這些話和預言，便壯了膽，將在猶大和本雅明全境，以及在厄弗辣因山地所佔領的各城內的可憎之物，一概除掉，重修上主門廊前的上主的祭壇，
 編下:15.9   又召集了猶大和本雅明全民眾，以及在他們中間寄居的厄弗辣因人、默納協人和西默盎人，─因為有許多人由以色列來投奔阿撒，因為他們看見上主，他的天主是與他同在。
 編下:15.10  阿撒當國第十五年三月，他們聚集在耶路撒冷，
 編下:15.11  當天由所擄獲的戰利品，取出了七百頭牛，七千隻羊，祭獻給上主，
 編下:15.12  結盟立約，要全心全意尋求上主，他們祖先的天主；
 編下:15.13  凡不尋求上主以色列天主的，不分老幼，不分男女，一律處死。
 編下:15.14  然後高聲歡呼，鳴號吹角，向上主起誓。
 編下:15.15  全猶大人發了這誓，都非常高興，因為他們是全心起誓，全意尋求上主；因此上主也為他們所尋見，並使他們四境安寧。
 編下:15.16  阿撒王廢除了他祖母瑪阿加作太后的權位，因為她給阿舍辣立了可恥的柱像；阿撒將柱像砍倒，打得粉碎，在克德龍谷焚燬，
 編下:15.17  只有以色列的高丘沒有廢除；阿撒的心一生總是純全的。
 編下:15.18  他又將他父親和他自己所獻的金銀並器具，送入天主的殿內。
 編下:15.19  此後，直到阿撒當國三十五年，從沒有過戰事。
    
 編下:16.1   [阿撒與巴厄沙交戰]  阿撒當國第三十六年，以色列王巴厄沙來進攻猶大，在辣瑪修築工事，防止人同猶大王阿撒來往。
 編下:16.2   當時阿撒拿出上主殿內和王宮府庫中的金銀，送給住在大馬士革得阿蘭王本哈達得說：
 編下:16.3   「我與你之間，以及我父與你之間都立過約；現在我給你送來金銀作為禮品，請你廢除你與以色列王巴厄沙所立的約，使他離開我的國境。」
 編下:16.4   本哈達得聽從了阿撒王的話，即刻派軍長，去攻打以色列的城市，攻下了依雍、丹、阿貝耳瑪因和納斐塔里所有的屯貨城。
 編下:16.5   巴厄沙一聽說這事，立即停止在辣瑪的工事。
 編下:16.6   阿撒王遂徵調全猶大人，將巴厄沙修築辣瑪所用的石頭和木材運走，用來修築革巴和米茲帕。
 編下:16.7   [先見者哈納尼的斥責]  那時，先見者哈納尼來見猶大王阿撒，對他說：「因為你依靠了阿蘭，而沒有依靠上主你的天主，因此阿蘭王的軍隊脫離了你。
 編下:16.8   雇士人和利比亞人不是一支很強大的軍隊嗎﹖戰車騎兵不是很多嗎﹖但幾時你依靠上主，他便將他們交在你的手中。
 編下:16.9   上主的眼遍察各地，對所有專心忠於他的，他必大顯威能，加以扶助。你這事作得太無知了，今後你必要遭遇戰禍。」
 編下:16.10  阿撒對先見者發怒，將他囚在獄中；王在這事上實在生了大氣，同時阿撒又虐待了一些百姓。
 編下:16.11  [阿撒逝世]  阿撒的前後事蹟，都記載在猶大和以色列列王實錄上。
 編下:16.12  阿撒當國第三十九年，患了足疾，病得十分嚴重；他在病中不求上主，而只求醫。
 編下:16.13  阿撒在位四十一年逝世，與祖先同眠。
 編下:16.14  人們將他葬在達味城，自己所鑿的墳墓，將他放在床上面，滿堆香料，即照調香法所製的各種香料，又為他焚燒了很多的香料。
    
 編下:17.1   [約沙法特的虔誠與強盛]  阿撒的兒子約沙法特繼位為王，發奮圖強，對抗以色列，
 編下:17.2   在猶大各堅城內派駐了大軍，在猶大地內和他父親阿撒所克服的厄弗辣因各城裏，也派上了守軍。
 編下:17.3   上主與約沙法特同在，因為他遵行了他父親最初所行的道路，沒有尋求過巴耳神，
 編下:17.4   只尋求他父親的天主，履行他的誡命，不照以色列的作風行事。
 編下:17.5   因此，上主鞏固了他統治的王國，全猶大人都給約沙法特獻禮，所以他財產很富，尊榮很大。
 編下:17.6   他一心在上主的道路上向上邁進，剷除了猶大境內的高丘和木偶。
 編下:17.7   [教訓人民法律]  他為王第三年上，派遣了他的官員本海耳、敖巴狄雅、則加黎雅、乃塔乃耳和米加雅，往猶大各城去教訓百姓。
 編下:17.8   隨從他們的有肋未人舍瑪雅、乃塔尼雅、則巴狄雅、阿撒耳、舍米辣摩、約納堂、阿多尼雅和多彼雅：這些都是肋未人；還有司祭厄里沙瑪和約蘭。
 編下:17.9   他們隨身帶著上主的法律書，在猶大施教，走遍了猶大各城，教訓百姓。約沙法特的聲望
 編下:17.10  上主威震猶大四周所有的國家，因此都不敢與約沙法特作戰。
 編下:17.11  有些培肋舍特人向約沙法特進貢獻銀，阿剌伯人給他呈獻家畜，即公綿羊七千七百隻，公山羊七千七百隻。
 編下:17.12  約沙法特勢力日漸強大，達到頂峰：在猶大建造了一些堡壘和儲貨城，
 編下:17.13  在猶大各城又做了堅固的工事，在耶路撒冷駐有英勇的部隊。
 編下:17.14  他們的人數，按照家族記錄如下：猶大的軍長，首為阿德納軍長，率領三十萬勇士，
 編下:17.15  次為約哈南軍長，率領二十八暗人，
 編下:17.16  其次為齊革黎的兒子阿瑪息雅，他甘願獻身於上主，率領二十萬勇士；
 編下:17.17  屬本雅明的有勇士厄肋雅達，他率領二十萬挽弓和持盾的人；
 編下:17.18  其次為約匝巴得，率領十八萬常備軍人。
 編下:17.19  這些都是服侍君王的人，王在全猶大各堅城所駐派的人，尚未計算在內。
    
 編下:18.1   [南北聯婚齊戰阿蘭]  約沙法特的財產豐富，尊榮很大，且與阿哈布聯婚。
 編下:18.2   幾年內以後，他到撒瑪黎雅去見阿哈布。阿哈布為他和跟從他的隨員，宰殺了許多牛羊，慫恿他去攻打辣摩特基肋阿得。
 編下:18.3   以色列王阿哈布對猶大王約沙法特說：「你願意同我一起去攻打辣摩特基肋阿得嗎﹖」約沙法特回答說：「你我原不分彼此，我的人民就是你的人民；我必與你同去作戰。」
 編下:18.4   [假先知預言勝利]  約沙法特對以色列王說：「請你先求問上主的答話! 」
 編下:18.5   以色列王於是召集了先知，共四百人，問他們說：「我們應該上去進攻辣摩特基肋阿得﹖還是不去呢﹖」他們回答說：「上主，天主必將那地交於大王手中。」
 編下:18.6   但是約沙法特說：「這裏就沒有一位上只的先知，我們可以託他求問嗎﹖」
 編下:18.7   以色列王回答約沙法特說：「還有一個人，可以託他求問天主，不過我憎恨他，因為他對我說預言，總不說吉祥話，常說兇言；這人就是依默拉的兒子米加雅。」約沙法特對他說：「請大王別這樣說! 」
 編下:18.8   於是以色列王召來一個宦官，吩咐他說：「快去將依默拉的兒子米加雅召來! 」
 編下:18.9   當時以色列王和猶大王約沙法特在撒瑪黎雅城門前的廣場上，各穿朝服，坐在寶座上；所有的先知在他們面前說預言。
 編下:18.10  革納阿納的兒子漆德克雅帶了一些鐵角說：「上主這樣說：你要用這些鐵角刺殺阿蘭人，直到將他們消滅。」
 編下:18.11  所有的先知也這樣預言說：「你上辣摩特基肋阿得去必會勝利，上主必將那地交於大王手中! 」
 編下:18.12  [米加雅預言戰敗]  那去召米加雅的使者對米加雅說：「看，先知們都異口同聲對君王說吉祥的話，希望你說的話也與他們每人說的話一樣，也是吉祥的話! 」
 編下:18.13  米加雅回答說：「我指著永生的上主起誓：我的天主吩咐什麼，我就說什麼! 」
 編下:18.14  米加雅來到王那裏，王就問他說：「米加雅，我們應該上去進攻辣摩特基肋阿得，還是不去呢﹖」他回答說：「上去，必然勝利，他們必落在你們手中。」
 編下:18.15  君王對他說：「我應當多少次叫你宣誓，你纔奉上主的名，對我說實話呢﹖」
 編下:18.16  米加雅答說：「我看見全以色列散在山上，好像沒有牧人的羊群。上主說：這些人既然沒有主人，更好各自平安回家去罷! 」
 編下:18.17  以色列王對約沙法特說：「我不是告訴過你，他對我說預言，總不說吉祥話，只說兇言麼﹖」
 編下:18.18  米加雅答說：「請你們靜聽上主的話：我見上主坐在寶座上，天上的萬軍侍立在他左右。
 編下:18.19  上主問說：誰去唆使以色列王阿哈布上去，叫他陣王在辣摩特基肋阿得呢﹖那時有的說這樣，有的說那樣。
 編下:18.20  以後有一個神出來，立在上主面前說：我能唆使他。上主的問他說：用什麼方法﹖
 編下:18.21  那神答說：我去，在他所有先知們口中做虛言的神。上主回答說：你能唆使，也必會成功的，就去照樣辦罷!
 編下:18.22  現在上主將虛言的神放入你這些先知口中，上主已注定你必遭殃。」
 編下:18.23  那時，革納阿納的兒子漆德克雅前來，打米加雅的臉說：「上主的神由那條路離開了我，而同你說話呢﹖」
 編下:18.24  米加雅答說：「在你進入最嚴密的室內隱藏的那一天，你就會知道了! 」
 編下:18.25  以色列王吩咐說：「將米加雅帶去，交給阿孟市長和約阿布王子，
 編下:18.26  說君王這樣吩咐：將這人下在監裏，少給他吃的喝的，等我平安回來。」
 編下:18.27  米加雅說：「你如果能平安回來，那麼，上主就沒藉我說過話。」又說：「眾百姓! 你們要聽清楚啊! 」
 編下:18.28  [阿哈布陣亡]  以色列王遂與猶大王約沙法特上去進攻辣摩特基肋阿得。
 編下:18.29  以色列王對約沙法特說：「我要改裝上陣，你可仍穿朝服。」於是以色列王改裝上了陣。
 編下:18.30  阿蘭王曾吩咐自己的戰車隊長說：「你們不必與大小將士交戰，只攻打以色列王。」
 編下:18.31  戰車隊長一看見約沙法特，便說：「這必是以色列王! 」遂將他包圍，向他進攻；約沙法特連聲叫苦，上主援助了他，天主使敵人遠離了他。
 編下:18.32  戰車隊長見他不是以色列王，就不再追擊他。
 編下:18.33  有人偶然一箭，正射入以色列王的鎧甲與腰帶中，君王對駕車的人說：「轉回，載我離開陣地，我已受傷。」
 編下:18.34  但那天戰事越來越激烈，以色列王仍立在車上，抵抗阿蘭人，直到晚上；日落的時後，王就死了。
    
 編下:19.1   [約沙法特受責斥]  猶大王約沙法特平安回了耶路撒冷王宮。
 編下:19.2   仙見者哈納泥的兒子耶胡來見約沙法特王，對他說：「你怎能協助惡人，愛那憎恨上主的人呢﹖因此上主的憤怒必臨於你，
 編下:19.3   不過你還行了好事，因為你由國內剷除了木偶，專心致志尋求了上主。」
 編下:19.4   [設立判官]  約沙法特在耶路撒冷住了一段時期以後，又出駕巡視民間，由貝爾舍巴直到厄弗辣因山地，引導他們歸向上主，他們祖先的天主。
 編下:19.5   他在猶大境內所有的堅城，每座城內都設立了判官，
 編下:19.6   對這些判官說：「你們所作所為，必須慎重，因為你們處理訴訟的事，不是為人，而是為上主；你們在處理訴訟時，他必與你們同在。
 編下:19.7   現在你們應有敬畏上主的心，辦事必須勤謹，因為上主，我們的天主，毫無不義，不偏待人，不受賄賂。」
 編下:19.8   約沙法特在耶路撒冷又另委派了一些肋未人、司祭和以色列族長，為上主施行判斷，為耶路撒冷的居民處理訴訟的事，
 編下:19.9   吩咐他們說：「你們行事應敬畏上主，誠心實意。
 編下:19.10  你們住在各城中的弟兄，無論有什麼爭訟的案件，向你們投訴，或為血案，或為有關法律與誡命，典章與律例之間的爭執，你們應開導他們，以免得罪上主，招致憤怒來到你們和你們弟兄身上；你們如此行事，方可無罪。
 編下:19.11  諸凡屬於上主的事，全由大司祭阿瑪黎雅指揮你們；所有屬於君王的事，概由猶大族長依市瑪耳的兒子則巴狄雅處理；有肋未人作你們的書記。你們應勇敢行事，上主必與好人同在。
    
 編下:20.1   [聯軍進襲猶大]  此後，摩阿布人、阿孟人，還有一些瑪紅人前來供打約沙法特。
 編下:20.2   有人來告訴約沙法特說：「由海那邊，由厄東有一支大軍前來攻擊你；他們現已到達哈匝宗塔瑪爾，即恩革狄。」
 編下:20.3   約沙法特害了怕， 一面懇求上主，一面宣佈全猶大禁食。
 編下:20.4   猶大人遂集會，求上主援助；猶大 各城的人也前來祈求上主。
 編下:20.5   [約沙法特的禱詞]  約沙法特在猶大和耶路撒冷的會眾中，站在上主殿宇的新院前，
 編下:20.6   說「上主，我們祖先的天主! 你不是天上的天主嗎﹖你不是治理萬國萬民的麼﹖你手中有能力和權威，沒有誰能 抵抗你。
 編下:20.7   我們的天主! 不是你將這地方的居民，在你百姓以色列面前趕走，將這地方永遠賜給了你友人亞巴郎的後代嗎﹖
 編下:20.8   他們現在住在這地方，並在這地方為你的名建造了聖殿說：
 編下:20.9   如果我們遭遇了禍患，刀兵災害，或瘟疫饑饉，我們站在這殿前和你面前，在災難中向你呼籲，你必予以垂聽，施行拯救，因為你的名在這殿內。
 編下:20.10  現在你看，阿孟人、摩阿布人以及色依爾山中的人，這些人是以色列出離埃及時，你曾禁止以色列侵犯，以色列便繞道遠離，未加消滅的人。
 編下:20.11  你看他們如何報復我們要來驅逐我們離開你賜予我們為基業的地方。
 編下:20.12  我們的天主，你不懲罰他們麼﹖我們實在沒有力量抵抗來攻擊我們的這支龐大的軍隊，我們也不知道該作什麼，我們的眼睛惟有仰望你。」
 編下:20.13  當時全猶大民眾，連他們全家妻子兒女，都立在上主 面前。
 編下:20.14  [先知預報勝利]  上主的神在會眾中臨於肋未人阿撒夫的後裔，瑪塔尼雅的玄孫，耶依耳的曾孫，貝納雅的孫子，則加黎雅的兒子雅哈齊耳身 上，
 編下:20.15  他遂說：「全猶大人耶路撒冷的居民以及約沙法特王，都要靜聽! 上主這樣對你們說：你們不要為這支龐大軍隊害怕，因為戰爭不在乎你們， 而在乎天主。
 編下:20.16  明天你們要下去迎敵，他們要由漆茲山坡上來，你們要在耶魯耳曠野前的谷口遇到他們。
 編下:20.17  這次你們無須交戰，只須佈陣以待，觀看上主為你們所行的救援。猶大和耶路撒冷，不必畏懼，不必害怕! 明天你 們只管出去迎敵，因為上主與你們同在。」
 編下:20.18  約沙法特遂俯首至地，猶大民眾和耶路撒冷居民也都俯伏在上主面前，朝拜上主。
 編下:20.19  刻哈特子孫和科辣黑子孫中的肋未人起立，引吭高歌，讚頌上主以色列的天主。
 編下:20.20  [凱旋歸來]  次日，他們一早就起來，開往特科亞曠野；在出發時，約沙法特立起 來說：「猶大和耶路撒冷的居民，請聽我的話! 你們信賴上主你們的天主， 必保生命；相信他的先知，必定勝利。」
 編下:20.21  他與百姓商定之後，便派歌詠人員讚頌上主，身穿聖潔服裝，走在軍隊面前，歌頌說：「你們應讚頌上主 ，因為他的慈愛永遠常存! 」
 編下:20.22  他們正歌詠讚美時，上主派出伏兵，襲擊了那些來攻擊猶大的阿孟人、摩阿布人和色依爾山地的居民；他們便被擊敗 了。
 編下:20.23  阿孟人和摩阿布人起來攻擊色依爾山地的居民，決心將他們殺盡滅絕；殲滅了色依爾山地居民以後，他們又自相殘殺。
 編下:20.24  猶大人到了俯瞰曠野的高崗上，觀望大軍，見伏屍遍野，沒有一個逃脫的。
 編下:20.25  約沙法特遂帶他的軍民去掠奪敵人的財物，見有大批的牲畜、財物、衣服和寶物；足足掠 取了三天，奪得的財物多得不能攜帶，因為實在太多。
 編下:20.26  第四天，他們聚集在巴辣加谷，在那裏讚頌了上主，為此給那地起名叫巴辣加谷，直到今天 。
 編下:20.27  此後，猶大和耶路撒冷所有的軍民，由約沙法特率領，凱旋回了耶路撒冷，因為上主使他們戰勝仇敵，因而異常歡樂，
 編下:20.28  都彈著琴，鼓著瑟，吹著號，來到耶路撒冷，進了上主的殿。
 編下:20.29  列國的民族一聽說上主擊敗了以色列的敵人，都對天主起了恐怖的心。
 編下:20.30  約沙法特的王國於是獲享太平，因為上主賜給他四境平安。
 編下:20.31  [對約沙法特的短評]  約沙法特為猶大王，即位時年三十五歲，在耶路撒冷為王凡二十五年；他的母親名叫阿組巴，是史肋希的女兒。
 編下:20.32  約沙法特走了他父親阿撒的道路，未偏左右，行了上主 視為正義的事；
 編下:20.33  只是丘壇沒有剷除，人民仍沒有全心全意歸向他們祖先 的天主。
 編下:20.34  約沙法特前後其餘的事蹟，都記載在哈納尼之子耶胡的言行錄上這言行錄收集在以色列列王實錄內。
 編下:20.35  [船遭破毀]  此後，猶大王約沙法特與作惡多端的以色列王阿哈齊雅聯盟，
 編下:20.36  合夥製造船隻，開往塔爾史士去；他們合力在厄茲雍革貝爾製造了一些船。
 編下:20.37  瑪勒沙人多達瓦的兒子厄里厄則爾講預言攻擊約沙法特說：「因為你與阿哈齊雅聯盟，上主必要破壞你所造的船隻。」後來那些船隻果然遭受破壞，未能開往塔爾史士。
    
 編下:21.1   [約蘭王的惡行]  約沙法特與列祖同眠，與祖先一同葬在達味城；他的兒子約蘭繼位為王。
 編下:21.2   他的兄弟，約沙法特的兒子：哈匝黎雅、耶希耳、則加黎雅、阿匝黎雅、米加耳和舍法提雅，這些都是猶大王約沙法特的兒子，
 編下:21.3   他們的父親將許多禮品，金銀財寶，以及猶大的堅城分封了他們，卻將王位賜給了約蘭，因為他是長子。
 編下:21.4   當約蘭登上了他父親的王位鞏固了自己的勢力以後，就殺了他所有的兄弟，和幾個以色列首領。
 編下:21.5   約蘭即位時年三十二歲，在耶路撒冷作王八年。
 編下:21.6   他走了以色列王所走的道路，有如阿哈布家一樣，因為他娶了阿哈布的女兒為妻，行了上主視為惡的事。
 編下:21.7   但是，上主不願消滅達味家室，因為曾與達味立過約，應許時常給他和他的子孫留下一盞明燈。
 編下:21.8   [天主降罰]  約蘭年間，厄東反叛，脫離了猶大的統治，自立為王。
 編下:21.9   約蘭率領自己的軍長和所有的戰車前去聲討；他夜間起來，衝出了包圍他和戰車隊長的厄東人。
 編下:21.10  這樣，厄東人脫離了猶大的統治，直到現在。里貝納也同時叛變，脫離了猶大的統治，因為君王離棄了上主，他祖先的天主，
 編下:21.11  並且在猶大山上建立了高丘，使耶路撒冷的居民行淫，使猶大人背信。
 編下:21.12  有人給他送來厄里亞先知的一封信，信上說：「上主，你祖先達味的天主這樣說：因為你沒有走你父親約沙法特的路，又沒有走猶大王阿撒的路，
 編下:21.13  反而走了以色列王的路，引誘猶大和耶路撒冷的居民行淫，如同阿哈布家行淫一樣；又因為你殺了你父親家中那些比你好的兄弟，
 編下:21.14  上主必以巨大的災禍打擊你的百姓，你的妻子兒女，以及你所有的財產。
 編下:21.15  至於你，你必生一種極嚴厲的病，腸胃病，以至兩年內，你的腸子都要流出來。」
 編下:21.16  [預言實現]  上主激起培肋舍特人和臨近雇士的阿剌伯人的心，與約蘭為敵。
 編下:21.17  他們遂前來攻擊猶大，侵入境內，掠去了王宮所有的財物，擄去了他的兒子妻妾；除他最小的兒子約阿哈次，沒有給他留下一個兒子。
 編下:21.18  此後，上主以一種不能醫治的腸胃病打擊了約蘭。
 編下:21.19  這病纏綿了一年多；二年末，當他的終期來到時，他的腸子因病都流了出來，他在極苦痛中死了。他的百姓沒有為他舉行焚香禮，如同為他的列祖所行的一樣。
 編下:21.20  他即位時年三十二歲，在耶路撒冷作王八年。他逝世後，無人表示悲哀。人將他葬於達味城，但沒有葬在王陵內。
    
 編下:22.1   [阿哈齊雅即位行惡]  耶路撒冷居民立了約蘭的小兒阿哈齊雅繼位為王，因為與阿剌伯人同來攻營的匪徒，將他的哥哥全都殺了，因此猶大王約蘭的兒子阿哈齊雅即位為王。
 編下:22.2   阿哈齊雅即位年二十二歲，在耶路撒冷作王一年；他的母親名叫阿塔里雅，是敖默黎的孫女。
 編下:22.3   阿哈齊雅也走了阿哈布家的道路，因為他母親主使他作惡。
 編下:22.4   他行了上主視為惡的事，同阿哈布家一樣，因為自他父親死後，阿哈布家人給他出主意，使他趨於滅亡。
 編下:22.5   他隨從了他們的計謀，同以色列王阿哈布的兒子耶曷蘭，往辣摩特基肋阿得與阿蘭王哈匝耳交戰；阿蘭人擊傷了耶曷蘭，
 編下:22.6   耶曷蘭遂回依次勒耳，治療他在辣摩特與阿蘭在哈匝耳交戰時所受的傷。猶大王約蘭的兒子阿哈齊雅因阿哈布的兒子耶曷蘭患病，就下到依次勒耳去探望他。
 編下:22.7   [阿哈齊雅被殺]  阿哈齊雅去看望耶曷蘭反而遇害，這原是出於天主；因為他到了以後，便與耶曷蘭出擊尼默史的孫子耶胡，而耶胡即是上主用油所傅，為消滅阿哈布家的。
 編下:22.8   耶胡討伐阿哈布家時，遇到了猶大的一些首領和事奉阿哈齊砑的姪子們，便將他們殺了；
 編下:22.9   然後去尋找阿哈齊雅；阿哈齊雅當時藏在撒瑪黎雅，人將他拿住，解到耶胡那裏，耶胡也將他殺了，以後人也埋葬了他，因為人說：「他究竟是那一心尋求上主的約沙法特的孫子。」這樣，阿哈齊雅家中沒有一個人能即位為王。
 編下:22.10  阿哈齊雅的母親阿塔里雅見自己的兒子死了，便起來殲滅了猶大家中所有的王族後裔。
 編下:22.11  [母后篡位]  約蘭王的女兒約舍巴，將阿哈齊雅的兒子約阿士由被殺的太子中偷了出來，將他和他的乳母藏在聖殿的寢室裏。約舍巴─約蘭王的女兒，約雅達大司祭的妻子，阿哈齊雅的姐妹─就這樣藏匿了約阿士，沒有被阿塔里雅殺害。
 編下:22.12  約阿士與她們在天主殿內隱藏了六年，當時由阿塔里雅主持國政。
    
 編下:23.1   [約阿士登極]  第七年，約雅達自告奮勇，將眾百夫長：耶洛罕的兒子阿匝黎雅，約哈南的兒子依市瑪耳，敖貝得的兒子阿匝黎雅，阿達雅的 兒子瑪阿色雅和齊革黎的兒子厄里沙法特召來，與他們立約。
 編下:23.2   他們走遍了猶大，召集猶大各城的肋未人，和以色列各族長一起來到耶路撒冷。
 編下:23.3   全會眾在天主殿內與君王立了約。約雅達對他們說：「這就是太子。按照上主論 及達味的子孫所說的話，他必須作王!
 編下:23.4   你們要這樣行：你們中間逢安息日來值班的司祭和肋未人，三分之一應把守各門，
 編下:23.5   三分之一應把守王宮，三分之一應把守馬門；所有的百姓都應在上主殿宇的庭院裏，
 編下:23.6   除司祭和供職的肋未人外，任何人不得進入上主的殿，唯有他們可以進，因為他們是聖潔的；所有的百姓必須遵守上主的命令。
 編下:23.7   肋未人手裏各拿著武器，環繞君王；凡擅自進殿的，該將他殺死。君王出入時，你們要緊隨不離。」
 編下:23.8   肋未人和猶大民眾，都按照大司祭約雅達所吩咐的一切遵行了，各自帶領在安息日值班的，和安息日下班的人，因為大司祭約雅達不准下班。
 編下:23.9   大司祭約雅達便將天主殿內，屬達味王的刀槍和大小盾牌，交給了眾百夫長，
 編下:23.10  指令民眾各持武器，由殿南邊直到殿北邊，面對祭壇和聖殿，環立在君王四周。
 編下:23.11  然後引出太子來，給他加冕，再將約書交給他，立他為王；約雅達和他的兒子們給他傅了油，眾人遂喊說：「君王萬歲! 」
 編下:23.12  [阿塔里雅被殺]  阿塔里雅聽見百姓奔走歌頌君王的歡呼聲，就進上主的殿，到了百姓前，
 編下:23.13  看見君王立在殿門旁的高台上，百夫長和吹號的侍立在君王左右，所有當地人民歡躍吹號，歌詠團用各種樂器領導人歌唱頌揚；阿塔里雅就撕裂了自己的衣服說：「反了! 反了! 」
 編下:23.14  大司祭約雅達吩咐領軍隊的眾百夫長，說：「將她由行列中趕出去，凡隨從她的人，都用刀殺死。」原來大司祭曾吩咐說：不可在上主的殿內殺她。
 編下:23.15  於是人捉住她，在她走到王宮馬門口時，在那裏將她殺了。
 編下:23.16  [宗教改革]  此後，約雅達使人民和君王與上主立約， 當作上主的人民。
 編下:23.17  然後全體人民到了巴耳廟，將廟拆毀，將祭壇和偶像打碎，又在祭壇前斬了巴耳的司祭瑪堂。
 編下:23.18  約雅達將看守市主殿宇的職責，交在司祭和肋未人手內，因為他們原是達味早已分派在上主殿內，照梅瑟法律所載，向上主獻全燔祭，按照達味的定例，歡躍歌唱的。
 編下:23.19  又指派門丁看守上主殿宇的各門，無論在任何事上，凡是不潔淨的，都不准進。
 編下:23.20  最後率領百夫長、貴族、民間領袖和當地人民，接君王從上主的殿下來，經上門進入王宮，請君王坐在王位上。
 編下:23.21  於是全國人民喜慶，京城也平靜了；至於阿塔里雅，已為刀所殺。
    
 編下:24.1   [約阿士為王]  約阿士即位時纔七歲；在耶路撒冷作王凡四十年；他的母親名叫漆彼雅，是貝爾舍巴人。
 編下:24.2   大司祭約雅達在生之日，約阿士行 了上主視為正義的事。
 編下:24.3   約雅達為他娶了兩個妻子，且生了子女。
 編下:24.4   [重修聖殿]  此後，約阿士有意重修上主的殿，
 編下:24.5   便召集司祭和肋未人來，吩咐他們說：「你們往猶大各城去，向全以色列人捐錢，按每年需要，修補你們天主的殿；你們應急速辦理此事。」但是肋未人沒有趕緊辦理。
 編下:24.6   君王遂將大司祭約雅達召來，對他說：「你為什麼不勒令肋未人在猶大和耶路撒冷捐款，像上主的僕人梅瑟為作證的會幕，巷以色列會眾徵收﹖」
 編下:24.7   原來，惡婦阿塔里雅和附合他的人使上主的殿失修，且將上主殿內的捐獻都用於巴耳。
 編下:24.8   君王於是下令，製一個箱子，放在上主的殿門外，
 編下:24.9   並在猶大和耶路撒冷發出通告，要人為上主捐款，像天主的僕人梅瑟在曠野曾向以色列徵收捐款 一樣。
 編下:24.10  眾首領和全民眾都很高興來捐獻，將錢投入箱內，直到投滿。
 編下:24.11  當肋未人將錢箱抬到君王的有司那裏時，見稅錢很多，遂請君王的書記和大司祭的屬員前來，將錢箱倒空，然後拿去放在原處；天天如此，所以收 集了很多的錢。
 編下:24.12  君王和約雅達便將錢交給主管上主殿的人，雇用石工和木工，招請鐵匠和銅匠，修理上主的殿宇。
 編下:24.13  工匠都勤於工作，修葺的工作在他們手下日有進展，竟將天主的殿修理得與先前一樣，而且異常堅固。
 編下:24.14  他們完工以後，將剩下的錢，送到君王和約雅達那裏；他們遂叫人用來製造上主殿內的傢俱，為禮儀和全燔祭用得器皿、香盤以及各種金銀器皿。 約雅達有生之日，在上主的殿內，時時有人奉獻全燔祭。
 編下:24.15  [約阿士變節]  約雅達逝世時，年紀已很老；死時享年一百三十歲，
 編下:24.16  與列王同葬在達味城 ，因為他在以色列對天主和天主的殿立了大功。
 編下:24.17  但在約雅達死後，猶大 的首領前來朝覲君王，君王竟附和了他們的主意，
 編下:24.18  離棄了上主他們祖先天主的殿，去奉事阿舍辣和偶像。由於這個重罪，怒降到了猶大和耶路撒冷，
 編下:24.19  上主仍派先知來引導他們歸向上主，先知雖警告他們，無奈他們不肯聽從。
 編下:24.20  天主的神充滿在大司祭約雅達的兒子則加黎雅身上，他便站在民眾面前，對他們說：「天主這樣說：你們為什麼違犯上主的誡命，招致不利呢﹖因為你們拋棄了上主，他也要拋棄你們。」
 編下:24.21  民眾都想殺害他，遂按君王的命令，在上主殿的庭院裏，用石頭將他砸死了。
 編下:24.22  這樣，約阿士絲毫未念及他父親約雅達對待自己的恩德，反而殺了他的兒子。則加黎雅臨死時喊說：「願上主鑒察，加以追究! 」
 編下:24.23  [約阿士被殺]  次年歲首，阿蘭軍隊上來攻打約阿士，侵入了猶大和耶路撒冷，殺了民間所有的首領，將掠奪的戰利品送到大馬士革。
 編下:24.24  阿蘭軍隊雖只來了一小隊人，但上主卻將一支龐大的軍隊交在他們手中，這是因為民眾離棄了上主，他們祖先的天主；如此 阿蘭人懲罰了約阿士。
 編下:24.25  當他們離開約阿士時，約阿士正患重病，他的臣僕造反背叛了他，為報大司祭約雅達的兒子的血仇，將他打死在床上；他死 後，葬在達味城，但沒有埋在王陵內。
 編下:24.26  造反背叛他的是阿孟女人史默阿特的兒子匝巴得，和摩阿布女人史默黎特的兒子約匝巴得。
 編下:24.27  至於約阿士的兒子，以及他所受的種種警戒，和重修天主殿宇的事，都記載在列王傳記上。他的兒子阿瑪責雅繼位為王。
    
 編下:25.1   [阿瑪責雅登極]  阿瑪則雅登極時年二十五歲，在耶路撒冷作王凡二十九年；他的母親名叫約阿當，是耶路撒冷人。
 編下:25.2   他行了上主視為正義的事，只是心不專一。
 編下:25.3   及至王權已掌握在他手中之後，他將弒殺他父王的臣僕殺掉；
 編下:25.4   但沒有將他們的子女處死，因為按梅瑟法律書上所載的，上主曾命令說：「不可為兒子的罪處死父親，亦不可為父親的罪處死兒子；每人應為自己的罪被處死刑。」
 編下:25.5   [出征厄東]  阿瑪責雅召集了猶大人，按他們的家族，為全猶大和本雅明安置了千夫長和百夫長，統計了人民，由二十歲及以 上的，凡能操槍持盾，能出征上陣的精兵，共有三十萬；
 編下:25.6   又用一百「塔冷通」銀子，由以色列招募了十萬勇敢的戰士。
 編下:25.7   有天主的人前來見他，對他說：「請大王不要帶以色列軍隊與你同往，因為上主不與以色列，即厄弗辣因所有的子孫在一起。
 編下:25.8   如果你以為這樣可以戰勝，天主必使你敗於敵人之前，因為天主有能力助人，亦有能力使人潰敗。」
 編下:25.9   阿瑪責雅問天主的人說：「我已給了以色列僱傭兵一百「塔冷通」銀子，那怎麼辦呢﹖」天主的人回答說：「上主能將比這更多的賜給你。」
 編下:25.10  阿瑪責雅於是將從厄弗辣因來的僱傭兵分出來，遣返回家；因此他們非常懷恨猶大人，憤憤地回了家。
 編下:25.11  阿瑪責雅鼓起勇氣，率領自己的軍隊來到鹽谷，擊殺了一萬色依爾人。
 編下:25.12  猶大子民又生擒了一萬，帶到石崖頂上，由石崖頂上將他們推下去，都摔得支離破碎。
 編下:25.13  但是，那些被阿瑪責雅遣回，不准一同出征的僱傭兵，卻侵入猶大各城，由撒瑪黎雅直到貝特曷龍，擊殺了三千人，掠去了許多財物 。
 編下:25.14  [阿瑪責雅敬拜偶像]  阿瑪責雅打敗厄東人回來時，也將色依爾子民的神像帶回來，立為自己的神，在他們前焚香頂禮；
 編下:25.15  因為上主向阿瑪責雅發怒，派一位先知去見他，對他說：「這個民族的神未能拯救自己的百姓脫離你的手，你為什麼還求他們呢﹖」
 編下:25.16  先知正與君王說話時，君王對他說：「莫非我們立了你作君王的謀士﹖不必再說! 你為什麼來尋死呢﹖」先知便止住了，只聲明說：「我知道天主已決意要消滅你，因為你作了這事，還不聽從我的勸誡。」
 編下:25.17  [猶大向以色列挑戰]  猶大王阿瑪責雅聚議以後，便派人到以色列王耶胡的孫子，約阿哈次的兒子耶曷阿士那裏去說：「來，讓我們見個高低! 」
 編下:25.18  以色列王耶曷阿士派人回答猶大王阿瑪責雅說：「黎巴嫩的荊棘派使者去見黎巴嫩的香柏說：將你的女兒嫁給我的兒子為妻! 後來有一隻黎巴嫩的野獸經過，將這棵荊棘踏壞了。
 編下:25.19  你想你打敗了厄東，你就心高氣傲，自鳴得意。現在，你還是留在家裏罷! 又何必惹禍，使你和猶大一同喪亡呢﹖」
 編下:25.20  但是，阿瑪責雅不肯聽從；這原是出於天主，要將他們交於敵人手中，因為他們求問了厄東的神。
 編下:25.21  於是以色列王耶曷阿士上來，在猶大的貝特舍默士，與猶大王阿瑪責雅相見了。
 編下:25.22  猶大人被以色列擊敗，各自逃回帳幕去了。
 編下:25.23  以色列王耶曷阿士在貝特舍默士生擒了阿哈齊雅的孫子，約阿士的兒子猶大王阿瑪責雅，帶到耶路撒冷，將耶路撒冷的城牆拆了一個缺口，從厄弗辣因門直到角門，共四百肘；
 編下:25.24  又將敖貝得厄東所看守的天主殿內的一切金銀和器皿，並王宮的財寶都拿了去；又帶著人質，回了撒瑪黎雅。
 編下:25.25  [阿瑪責雅被殺]  以色列無約阿哈次的兒子耶曷阿士死後，猶大王約阿士的兒子阿瑪責雅還活了十五年。
 編下:25.26  阿瑪責雅前後 其餘的事蹟，都記載在猶大和以色列列王實錄上。
 編下:25.27  自從阿瑪責雅離棄了上主以後，在耶路撒冷就有人結黨反抗他，他即逃往拉基士，但是叛黨派人追到拉基士，在那裏將他殺死。
 編下:25.28  然後將他的屍體用馬馱回，葬在達味城，和他的祖先埋在一起。
    
 編下:26.1   [烏齊雅登極]  全猶大人民立烏齊雅為王，繼承他父親阿瑪責雅，那時他十六歲。
 編下:26.2   先王與祖先同眠以後，烏齊雅將厄拉特收回仍屬猶大，加以重建。
 編下:26.3   烏齊雅登基時纔十六歲，在耶路撒冷作王凡五十二年；他母親名叫耶苛里雅，是耶路撒冷人。
 編下:26.4   烏齊雅行了上主視為正義的事完全像他父親 阿瑪責雅所行的一樣。
 編下:26.5   則加黎雅有生之日，由於他指導君王敬畏天主，所以君王時常求天主；在他尋求上主的時期內，天主使他事事順利。
 編下:26.6   [國勢昌盛]  他出兵攻打了培肋舍特人，破壞了加特、雅貝乃和阿市多得的城垣，在阿市多得境內和培肋舍特人中建築了一些城池。
 編下:26.7   天主協助他攻打了培肋舍特人和住在古爾巴耳的阿剌伯人以及瑪紅人。
 編下:26.8   阿孟子民也向烏齊雅進貢，由於他的勢力極其強大，聲譽傳至埃及邊境。
 編下:26.9   烏齊雅在耶路撒冷的角門、谷門以及城角，建築了堡壘，加以設防。
 編下:26.10  又在曠野修築了一些堡壘，開鑿了許多儲水池，因為他在平原和高原有很多的牲畜；又因他喜愛農業，所以在山地和田園裏，僱用了許多農夫和栽培葡萄的人。
 編下:26.11  烏齊雅還備有能出征作戰的軍旅，照書記耶依耳和監察官瑪阿色雅所編定的數目，由君王的一位將帥哈納尼雅指揮。
 編下:26.12  這些英勇戰士中的族長，總數為二千六百 人。
 編下:26.13  他們屬下的軍隊計有三萬七千五百人，都是善於作戰，協助君王征討敵人的勇士。
 編下:26.14  烏齊雅給他們全隊的人配備了盾牌、長槍、盔甲、弓箭 和彈石。
 編下:26.15  在耶路撒冷又叫巧匠設製機械，放在堡壘和城角上，發射矢箭和大石彈。烏齊雅的名聲傳到遠方，因為他獲得了奇異的助佑，勢力極其 強盛。
 編下:26.16  [烏齊雅越職受罰]  他勢力強大了，便心高氣傲，以致自毀前途，竟敢冒犯上主他的天主，擅進上主的正殿，企圖在香壇上焚香。
 編下:26.17  大司祭 阿匝黎雅和八十個上主的勇敢司祭隨後進去，
 編下:26.18  阻止烏齊雅王說：「烏齊雅，給上主焚香不是你的事，而是亞郎子孫司祭的事，他們是受祝聖為行焚香禮的；請由聖殿裏出去，因為你越權，在上主天主面前也沒有光榮。」
 編下:26.19  烏齊雅發怒，手持香爐要獻香；他向司祭發怒時，就在上主殿內香壇旁，當著司祭面前，他的額上突然出現了癩病。
 編下:26.20  大司祭阿匝黎雅和所有的司祭望著他，見他額上出現了癩病，便促使他出去；他自己便急忙出去，因為上主打擊了他。
 編下:26.21  烏齊雅身患癩病一直到死；因為他身患癩病，獨住在一間隔離的房裏，不能進入上主的殿。他的兒子約堂掌管朝廷，統治國家的百姓。
 編下:26.22  烏齊雅前後其餘的事蹟，都由阿摩茲的兒子依撒意亞先知記了下來 。
 編下:26.23  烏黎雅與祖先同眠，因為人說他有癩病，所以只將他葬在王陵田間，祖先之旁；他的兒子約堂繼位為王。
    
 編下:27.1   [約堂為王]  約堂登極時年二十五歲，在耶路撒冷作王凡十六年；他的母親名叫耶魯沙，是匝克多的女兒。
 編下:27.2   約堂行了上主視為正義的事，完成像他父親所作的一樣，只是沒有進入上主的聖所；但百姓仍然敗壞。
 編下:27.3   他建築了上主殿宇的上門，在敖斐耳城牆上，也作了許多工程，
 編下:27.4   在猶大山地建築了一些城池，在叢林中也建了一些營寨和堡壘。
 編下:27.5   約堂與阿孟子民的君王交戰，戰勝了他們，因此阿孟子民那一年給他進貢：銀子一百「塔冷通，」小麥一萬「苛爾，」大麥一萬「苛爾。」以後第二第三年，阿孟子民仍進了這些貢物。
 編下:27.6   約堂因為在上主他的天主前，時常履行正道，所以日漸強盛 。
 編下:27.7   約堂其餘的事蹟，以及他的戰績和作為，都記載在以色列和猶大列王實錄上。
 編下:27.8   他即位時年二十五歲，在耶路撒冷作王十六年。
 編下:27.9   約堂與祖先同眠，葬在達味城；他的兒子阿哈次繼位為王。
    
           希則克雅和約史雅的重大改革(28-36)
    
 編下:28.1   [阿哈次的惡行]  阿哈次登極時年二十歲，在耶路撒冷作王凡十六年。他沒有像他的祖先達味一樣，行上主視為正義的事，
 編下:28.2   卻走了以色列列王的路，為巴耳諸神鑄了像，
 編下:28.3   在本希農山谷焚香，仿效上主從以色列子民面前所趕走的異民所行的醜惡之事，令自己的兒女經火獻神，
 編下:28.4   又在高處、丘陵和綠樹下焚香獻祭。
 編下:28.5   [猶大受懲罰]  因此，上主他的天主將他交於阿蘭王手中，阿蘭打敗了他，擄去了他一大批人民，帶到大馬士革。上主又將他交於以色列王手中，大加殺戮。
 編下:28.6   勒瑪里雅的兒子培卡黑在猶大一日殺了十二萬人，都是戰士，因為他們離棄了上主，他們祖先的天主。
 編下:28.7   厄弗辣因一個名叫齊革黎的勇士，殺了王子瑪阿色雅、王宮總管阿次黎岡和君王的輔相厄耳卡納。
 編下:28.8   以色列子民由他們的弟兄中擄去了婦女和他們的子女，共二十萬人，並掠去了許多財物，都帶到撒瑪黎雅。
 編下:28.9   [先知力勸釋放俘虜]  在那裏有一位上主的先知，名叫敖德得，出來迎接回撒瑪黎雅的軍隊，向他們說：「看，上主，你們祖先的天主，由於向猶大發怒，纔將他們交在你們手中，你們卻怒氣沖天，大加殺戮；
 編下:28.10  現在你們又想強迫猶大和耶路撒冷的子民作你們的奴婢；難道你們自己就沒有干犯上主，你們天主的罪惡嗎﹖
 編下:28.11  現在，你們聽我的話，將由你們弟兄中擄來的俘虜放回去，因為上主的震怒已臨到你們身上。」
 編下:28.12  那時厄弗辣因子民的首領中有幾個人，即約哈南的兒子阿匝黎雅，默史肋摩特的兒子貝勒革雅，沙隆的兒子希則克雅和哈德來的，就起來反對歸來的軍隊，
 編下:28.13  對他們說：「不可將俘虜帶到這裏來，因為你們想使我們得罪上主，來增加我們的罪惡和過犯! 我們的過犯已經夠重了，上主的震怒已臨於以色列。」
 編下:28.14  軍隊立即將擄來的人和搶來 的財物，留在首領和全會眾面前。
 編下:28.15  以上題名的那幾個人便起來，領去被擄的人，其中有赤身的，便從所掠取的財物中，取出衣服來給他們穿，給他們鞋穿，又給他們吃喝，且給他們擦油；又將所有軟弱的人，放在驢上，送 到稷櫚城耶里哥，他們的弟兄那裏；以後，便回了撒瑪黎雅。
 編下:28.16  [阿哈次四面受敵]  那時，阿哈次派人去亞述王那裏求救，
 編下:28.17  因為厄東人又來攻打 猶大，擄去了許多人民；
 編下:28.18  培肋舍特人也侵入平原的城市和猶大的南方，佔領了貝特舍默士、阿雅隆、革德洛特、索苛及其四郊村鎮、提默納及其四郊村鎮、基默左及其四郊村鎮，並住在那裏。
 編下:28.19  由於猶大王阿哈次在猶大肆無忌憚，背叛了上主，因此，上主壓伏了猶大。
 編下:28.20  亞述王提革拉特丕肋色爾到了他那裏，不但沒有協助，反而壓迫了他。
 編下:28.21  阿哈次強奪了上主殿內、王宮以及群臣家中的財寶，奉送給亞述王，但無濟於事。
 編下:28.22  [阿哈次惡上加惡]  阿哈次王這個人越在困難之時，越發背叛上主，
 編下:28.23  他竟祭祀打敗了他的大馬士革的神說：「阿蘭王的神，既協助了阿蘭人，我也向他們獻祭，好使他們也協助我。」但是那些神卻使他與以色列民眾陷於滅亡。
 編下:28.24  阿哈次又將上主殿內的器皿收集起來，將上主殿內的器皿予以粉碎，將上主殿宇的門封鎖，在耶路撒冷每個角落設立祭壇，
 編下:28.25  在猶大各城建立丘壇，向外邦的神焚香，這樣激起了上主，他祖先的天主的震怒。
 編下:28.26  [阿哈次逝世]  阿哈次其餘的事蹟和他行的一切，前前後後，都記載在猶大和以色列列王實錄上。
 編下:28.27  阿哈次與祖先同眠，葬在耶路撒冷城內，但沒有將他葬在以色列王陵內。他的兒子希則克雅繼位為王。
    
 編下:29.1   [希則克雅登極]  希則克雅登極時年二十五歲，在耶路撒冷作王凡二十九年；他的母親名叫阿彼雅，是則加黎雅的女兒。
 編下:29.2   希則克雅行了上主視為正義的事，完全像他的祖先達味所行的一樣。
 編下:29.3   [清除聖殿]  他作王元年正月，開了上主殿宇的門，再加以修理；
 編下:29.4   召司祭和肋未人來，聚集在東面廣場上，
 編下:29.5   對他們說：「肋未人，請聽我的話! 現在你們應自潔，好清除上主你們祖先的天主的殿宇，將聖所內的污穢之物除去。
 編下:29.6   因為我們的祖先犯了罪，行了上主我們的天主視為不悅的事，離棄了他，並轉臉不顧上主的居 所，所以背相向；
 編下:29.7   又封閉了廊門，熄滅了燈，未在聖所內給以色列的天主 焚香，獻全燔祭。
 編下:29.8   因此，上主的盛怒降於猶大和耶路撒冷，使之成為恐懼、驚駭、恥笑的對象，正如你們親眼所見的。
 編下:29.9   並且我們的祖先因此死於刀下，我們的妻子兒女作了俘虜。
 編下:29.10  現在，我有意與上主以色列的天主立約，使他的烈怒轉離我們。
 編下:29.11  我的孩子們! 現在不要再怠慢，因為上主揀選了你們侍立在他面前，為奉事他，向他焚香。」
 編下:29.12  於是肋未人起來：刻哈特族中有阿瑪賽的兒子瑪哈特和阿匝黎雅的兒子約厄耳；默辣黎族中有阿貝狄的兒子克士和雅肋肋耳的兒子阿匝黎雅；革爾雄族中有齊瑪的兒子約阿黑和約阿黑的兒子厄登；
 編下:29.13  厄里匝番的子孫中有史默黎和耶烏耳；阿撒夫子孫中有則加黎雅和瑪塔尼雅；
 編下:29.14  赫曼子孫中有耶希耳和史米；耶杜通子孫中有舍瑪雅和烏齊耳，
 編下:29.15  他們集合自己的弟兄，先行自潔，後照君王的吩咐，根據上主的命令，來清除上主的殿。
 編下:29.16  司祭進入上主的殿宇裏面去清除，將上主殿內所有的污穢之物，移到上主殿宇的院內；肋未人接過來，運到城外的克德龍溪。
 編下:29.17  他們在正月一日開始清除，第八天清除到上主的殿。正月十六日清除完畢。
 編下:29.18  於是他們去見希則克雅說：「我們已經將上主的殿宇、全燔祭壇、以及壇上所有的器具、供餅桌、以及桌上所有的用具，全部清潔了；
 編下:29.19  並且連阿哈次王在位犯罪時，所丟棄的器具，我們都整理好，也都清潔了；現在都放在上主祭壇前面。」
 編下:29.20  [獻祭贖罪]  希則克雅清晨起來，召集城內的首領，上到上主殿內。
 編下:29.21  人們帶來了七隻牛犢，七隻公綿羊和七隻羔羊；此外，還有七隻公山羊，為國家，為聖殿，為猶大作為贖罪祭；王遂吩咐亞郎的子孫司祭奉獻在上主的祭壇上。
 編下:29.22  祭殺了牛犢，司祭將血取來，灑在祭壇上；祭殺了綿羊，將血灑在祭壇上；祭殺了羔羊，也將血灑在祭壇上。
 編下:29.23  最後，將獻作贖罪祭的公山羊，牽到君王和會眾面前，他們將手按在公山羊身上，
 編下:29.24  司祭宰殺了，將血獻在祭壇上，作為贖罪祭，為以色列民眾贖罪，因為君王曾吩咐過：全燔祭和贖罪祭，應為以色列民眾奉獻。
 編下:29.25  王又派定肋未人用鈸、瑟和琴，在上主殿內奏樂，有如達味、王的先見者加得和先知納堂所吩咐的，亦即上主藉先知所吩咐的。
 編下:29.26  於是肋未人拿著達味的樂器，司祭拿著號筒，一起站著。
 編下:29.27  希則克雅遂下令在祭壇上奉獻全燔祭。全燔祭開始時，頌揚上主的歌聲和號角聲，也在以色列王達味的樂器伴奏下，隨之開始。
 編下:29.28  同時全會眾跪拜，唱歌的唱歌，吹 號的吹號，這樣直到全燔祭獻完為止。
 編下:29.29  獻完了祭，君王和所有同他自場的人，都屈膝跪拜。
 編下:29.30  此後，希則克雅王和眾首領，又吩咐肋未人用達味和先見者阿撒夫的詩詞，讚頌上主。他們便歡樂地讚頌了上主，隨即俯首朝拜。
 編下:29.31  希則克雅又吩咐說：「你們既然奉獻了自己與上主，請近前來，將感恩祭祭物，送入上主殿內。」會眾便將感恩祭祭物，以及甘心獻的全燔祭獻上。
 編下:29.32  會眾所獻的全燔祭犧牲總數為：牛犢七十隻，公山羊一百隻，羔羊二百隻，全獻給上主作全燔祭。
 編下:29.33  還有祝聖的牲畜：牛犢六百隻，羊三千隻。
 編下:29.34  由於司祭太少，不能剝盡全燔祭犧牲的皮，所以他們的弟兄肋未人前來協助，直到工作作完，直到司祭自潔完畢，因為肋未人自潔的誠心勝過司祭。
 編下:29.35  此外，還有許多全燔祭、和平祭、脂油，及與全燔祭同奠的酒，等待處理。這樣，上主殿內的禮儀就全恢復了。
 編下:29.36  希則克雅和全民眾都很快樂，因為天主為人民準備，使此事迅速完成。
    
 編下:30.1   [宣告舉行逾越節]  希則克雅派人到全以色列和猶大，且也寫了封公函給厄弗辣因和默納協，叫他們來耶路撒冷上主的殿內，向上主以色列的天主舉行逾越節，
 編下:30.2   因為君王與首領和耶路撒冷會眾已商妥，在二月舉行逾越節。
 編下:30.3   他們不能如期舉行的原因，是因為自潔的司祭尚不敷用，百姓又尚未齊集在耶路撒冷。
 編下:30.4   君王和全會眾都認為這樣做很對，
 編下:30.5   遂下令通告全以色列，從貝爾舍巴直到丹，都來耶路撒冷，向上主以色列的天主舉行逾越節，因為人很久沒有照章舉行這節了。
 編下:30.6   使者遂帶君王和首領的公函，走遍全以色列和猶大，照君王的吩咐，宣佈說：「以色列的子民，你們應當轉向上主，亞巴郎、依撒格和以色列的天主，好使他轉向你們，這些擺脫亞述王權下的遺民。
 編下:30.7   你們不可像你們的祖先和弟兄一樣，因為他們背叛了上主，他們祖先的天主，上主遂叫他們成了驚駭的對象，有如你們親眼所見的。
 編下:30.8   現在，你們再別頸硬，如同你們祖先一樣，反應投奔上主，進入他永遠祝聖的居所，奉事上主你們的天主，使他的震怒轉離你們。
 編下:30.9   如果你們轉向上主你們的天主，你們的弟兄子女，在擄掠他們的人面前必會蒙受憐憫，會再回到這地；因為上主你們的天主是慈悲的，是仁愛的；如果你們轉向他，他決不會 轉面不顧你們。」
 編下:30.10  使者由這城到那城，奏遍了厄弗辣因和默納協各地，直到則步隆；但是，那裏的人卻嘲笑侮辱他們。
 編下:30.11  可是，有些阿協爾、默納協和則步隆人自謙自卑，來到耶路撒冷。
 編下:30.12  天主的手也在猶大行事，使民眾一心遵從君王和首領，照上主的話所出的命令。
 編下:30.13  [舉行逾越節]  二月，有很多人民聚集在耶路撒冷，舉行無酵節，實行是一個大盛會。
 編下:30.14  民眾起來，將耶路撒冷所有的丘壇拆毀，將所有焚香的器具拿去，丟在克德龍溪裏。
 編下:30.15  二月十四日宰殺了逾越節羔羊；司祭和肋未人自覺慚愧，便聖潔 自己，好能在上主殿內奉獻全燔祭。
 編下:30.16  他們都按天主僕人梅瑟的法律，各自立在自己的地方，司祭由肋未人手中取過血來，灑在祭壇上。
 編下:30.17  因為會眾中有許多人尚未自潔，肋未人便為所有不潔的人，宰殺逾越節的羔羊，好奉獻給上主。
 編下:30.18  實在，有許多人，有許多來自厄弗辣因，默納協、依撒加爾和則布隆的人，沒有自潔，就吃了逾越節的羔羊，竟沒有遵守明文的規定；為此，希則克雅為他們祈禱說：
 編下:30.19  「凡誠心尋求天主，上主，他們祖先的天主的人，雖然沒有依照聖所的潔禮自潔，願良善的上主予以寬恕! 」
 編下:30.20  上主垂允了希則克雅，寬恕了百姓。
 編下:30.21  在耶路撒冷的以色列子民，極其歡樂，七天舉行了無酵節；肋未人和司祭們，天天讚頌上主，極力讚頌上主。
 編下:30.22  由於所有的肋未人慇勤服事上主，希則克雅便慰勞他們。七天之久，節宴，獻了和平祭，稱謝了上主，他們祖先的天主。
 編下:30.23  以後，全會眾議定，再舉行七天，於是歡樂地又舉行了七天，因為猶大王希則克雅送給了會眾一千頭牛犢，七千隻綿羊；首領們也送給了會眾一千頭牛犢，一萬隻綿羊；且有許多司祭已行了自潔禮。
 編下:30.24  因為猶大王希則克雅送給了會眾一千頭牛犢，七千只綿羊；首領們也送給了全會眾一千頭牛犢，一萬只綿羊，且有許多司祭已行了自潔禮。
 編下:30.25  猶大全會眾、司祭和肋未人，來自以色列的全會眾，以及由以色列地來的，或是僑居在猶大的人，都非常高興。
 編下:30.26  歡樂瀰漫了耶路撒冷，自以色列王達味的兒子撒羅滿以來，耶路撒冷從未有過這樣大的喜慶。
 編下:30.27  肋未人司祭起來為民眾祝福，他們的聲音承蒙垂聽，他們的祈禱達於他天上的神聖居所。
    
 編下:31.1   [清除偶像]  這一切完成以後，所有在場的以色列人就都出去，到猶大各城，將石柱搗碎，將木偶砍倒，將猶大、本雅明、厄弗辣因和默納協各地的高丘和香壇完全拆除；以後，所有的以色列子民各回了本城，各歸己業。
 編下:31.2   [重整神職班次]  希則克雅又整編了司祭和肋未人的班次，使司祭和肋未人各照自己的班次，各照自己的任務，獻權燔祭與和平祭，或服務於上主的螢幕門口，稱謝讚頌上主。
 編下:31.3   君王又由自己的產業中劃出一份，作為早晚的全燔祭，安息日、新月和節期的全燔祭，如上主法律上所規定的；
 編下:31.4   又吩咐住在耶路撒冷的百姓，交出司祭和肋未人所應得的一分，令他們堅守上主的法律。
 編下:31.5   這道諭旨一出，以色列子民便獻了許多初熟的五穀、新酒、蜜，以及田地的出產；同時將所有物的十分之一，也大批的送了來，
 編下:31.6   連住在猶大各城的以色列和猶大子民，也將牛羊的十分之一，並應獻於上主，他們天主的聖物的十分之一，都送了來，堆積成堆；
 編下:31.7   由三月開始堆積，至七月纔 完畢。
 編下:31.8   希則克雅和首領們前來，看見這些堆積之物，便稱讚了上主和他的百姓以色列。
 編下:31.9   希則克雅向司祭和肋未人問及這些堆積之物，
 編下:31.10  匝多克家的司祭之長阿匝黎雅答說：「自從人民將供物獻入上主的殿內以來，我們不但可以飽食，而且還有許多剩餘，因為上主祝福了他的百姓；這一大堆全是剩餘的。」
 編下:31.11  [貯藏與分配供物]  希則克雅吩咐在上主殿內預備倉房；人便預備了，
 編下:31.12  細心將供物和什一之物，以及奉獻的聖物，都搬入倉內。肋未人苛納尼雅為總管，他的兄弟史米為副。
 編下:31.13  耶希耳、阿匝齊雅、納哈特、阿撒耳、耶黎摩特、約匝巴得，厄里耳、依斯瑪基雅、瑪哈特和貝納雅，自苛納尼和他兄弟史米之下作督察，全是由君王希則克雅和上主殿宇的主席阿匝黎雅所委任的。
 編下:31.14  守東門的肋未人，依默納的兒子科勒，掌管自願捐獻於天主的禮品，發放獻於上主的供物和至聖之物；
 編下:31.15  他以下有厄登、本雅明、耶叔亞、舍瑪雅、阿瑪黎雅和舍加尼雅，在各司祭城內，按照班次，不分老幼，將物品細心分發給他們的弟兄。
 編下:31.16  此外，又登記了每日進上主殿，依照班次盡職，三十歲以上的男子：
 編下:31.17  司祭依照家族登記；二十歲以上的肋未人，依照職分班次登記。
 編下:31.18  登記時，他們全家妻子兒女，都應包括 在內，因為他們都應自潔成聖。
 編下:31.19  至於那住在各城郊外作司祭的亞郎子孫，在各城內有指定的人，給司祭中的男子及登記的肋未人，發放應得的一份。
 編下:31.20  希則克雅在全猶大行事都是如此：行了上主他的天主視為善，視為正義的事。
 編下:31.21  凡他著手所行的，不論是關於上主殿內的敬禮，或關於法律和誡命，都是為了尋求他的天主；凡他誠心所行的，無不順利。
    
 編下:32.1   [亞述來犯]  這些忠貞之事作完之後，亞述王散乃黑黎布來進攻猶大，包圍一切堅城，企圖攻破，佔為己有。
 編下:32.2   希則克雅見散乃黑黎市前來， 決意要進攻耶路撒冷，
 編下:32.3   便與自己的將領和勇士商議，將城外的水泉杜塞；他們都贊成；
 編下:32.4   於是召集許多人，將水泉和通過田間的水渠都杜塞，說：「為什麼讓亞述王來，得到這樣多的水! 」
 編下:32.5   希則克雅遂加強防禦工事，重修所有破裂的城牆，上面建上城樓，城外又築了一道牆，加強達味城的米羅，製造了許多箭矢和盾牌。
 編下:32.6   然後派了將官率領軍民，將他們集合到城門廣場他自己面前，鼓勵他們說：
 編下:32.7   「你們應該勇敢大膽，不要害怕，不要因亞述王和他所統領的大軍而膽怯，因為那與我們同在的比與他同在的，更有能力。
 編下:32.8   那與他同在的只是血肉的手臂，那與我們同在的卻是天主，我們的天主，他必要協助我們，為我們作戰。」眾人都因猶大王希則克雅這番話而得到鼓勵。
 編下:32.9   [亞述王的侮辱]  此後，亞述王散乃黑黎布派自己的臣僕到耶路撒冷來，─他本人偕全軍駐在拉基士─向猶大王希則克雅，和在耶路撒冷所有的猶大人說：
 編下:32.10  「亞述王散乃黑黎布這樣說：你們在耶路撒冷受困，還依靠什麼呢﹖
 編下:32.11  希則克雅曾對你們說過：雅威我們的天主必要救我們脫離亞述王的手，這豈不是誘惑你們，使你們餓死渴死嗎﹖
 編下:32.12  希則克雅豈不是將高丘和鄉壇推翻，且吩咐猶大和耶路撒冷人說：你們應在一個壇前朝拜，單在這上面焚香嗎﹖
 編下:32.13  難道你們不知道我與我的祖先，對各列邦民所作的事嗎﹖列邦各地的神，是否曾能拯救自己的國土，脫離我的手﹖
 編下:32.14  我祖先所消滅的那些邦國的諸神中，有那一個曾能夠拯救自己的百姓，脫離我的手﹖難道你們的神就能拯救你們脫離我的手嗎﹖
 編下:32.15  所以現在，不要讓希則克雅這樣欺騙你們，迷惑你們；你們也不要相信他，因為任何一個國家，一個民族的神，都不能拯救自己的百姓，脫離我的手，和我祖先的手；何況你們的神﹖他更不能拯救你們脫離我的手! 」
 編下:32.16  散乃黑黎布的臣僕，還說了許多 譭謗上主天主，和他僕人希則克雅的話。
 編下:32.17  散乃黑黎布也寫信嘲笑上主以色列的天主，侮辱他說：「就如列邦民族的神沒有拯救自己的百姓脫離我的手，同樣希則克雅的神也不能救自己的百姓脫離我的手。」
 編下:32.18  隨後，他們用猶大方言向耶路撒冷城牆上的軍民呼喊，想驚嚇他們，令他們恐懼，以便奪取京城。
 編下:32.19  他們論及耶路撒冷的天主，好似論及列邦民族的神一樣，當作了人手的造物。
 編下:32.20  [希則克雅祈禱獲允]  希則克雅王與阿摩茲的兒子依撒意亞先知為此向天祈求呼籲。
 編下:32.21  上主便派一位天使進入亞述王的營爭，將所有的兵士、將軍和統帥，予以殲滅，使亞述王含羞回了本國。當他進入自己的神廟時，為他親生的兒子用劍所殺。
 編下:32.22  這樣，上主救了希則克雅和耶路撒冷的居民，脫離了亞述王散乃黑黎布和所有敵人的手，使他們四境獲得了安寧。
 編下:32.23  眾人就都到耶路撒冷向上主獻上禮品也贈予猶大王希則克雅禮物；從此以後，希則克雅乃為個國所敬重。
 編下:32.24  那時，希則克雅害病要死，他哀求了上主，上主便應允了他，給了他一個異兆。
 編下:32.25  但是，希則克雅不但沒有照他所受的恩惠還報，反而心高氣傲，於是上主的怒火降於他和猶大並耶路撒冷。
 編下:32.26  以後，希則克雅抑制了自己的驕傲，他和耶路撒冷居民都自謙自卑，因此上主的怒氣，在希則克雅生時，沒有向他們發作。
 編下:32.27  [希則克雅一生概略]  希則克雅享盡富貴榮華，建造了府庫，儲藏金銀、寶石、香料、盾牌和各種珍器；
 編下:32.28  修建了倉廩，儲藏五穀、新酒和油；修蓋了棚欄，為養各類牲畜；為羊群修了羊棧；
 編下:32.29  又畜養了驢，以及許多大小牲畜；天主實在賜給了他極多的財物。
 編下:32.30  希則克雅堵住基紅泉上邊的水，將水直引到達味城西。希則克雅所作所為無不順利。
 編下:32.31  甚至巴比倫王公大人派使者來見希則克雅，詢問他國內發生的奇事時，天主也讓他自由，藉以考驗他，好知道他心中的一切。
 編下:32.32  希則克雅其餘的事蹟，以及他的善行，都記載在阿摩茲的兒子依撒意亞先知的神視錄及猶大和以色列列王實錄上。
 編下:32.33  希則克雅與他的祖先同眠，葬在達味子孫墓地的斜坡上；他死了，全猶大和耶路撒冷居民都為他舉哀致敬；他的兒子默納舍繼位為王。
    
 編下:33.1   [默納舍崇拜偶像]  默納舍登極時年十二歲，在耶路撒冷作王凡五十五年。
 編下:33.2   他行了上主視為惡的事，仿傚上主從以色列子民前驅逐的異民所行的可恥之事。
 編下:33.3   他重建了他父親希則克雅所拆毀的高丘，又為巴耳建立了祭壇，製造阿舍辣，叩拜奉事天上的萬象。
 編下:33.4   雖然上主曾指著聖殿說過：「我要將我的名永遠立在耶路撒冷，」他仍在上主殿內建立了一些祭壇；
 編下:33.5   且在上主殿的兩庭院內，為天上萬象建立了一些祭壇；
 編下:33.6   使自己的兒子在本希農山谷中經火，行占卜，邪術，立招魂師和術士；不斷行上主視為惡的事，惹上主發怒。
 編下:33.7   他又在天主殿內立了他所彫製的偶像；雖然論及這殿天主曾對達味和他的兒子撒羅滿說過：「我要在這殿內，和在我由以色列各支派所選出的耶路撒冷城，立我的名，直到永遠。
 編下:33.8   只要以色列人遵行我藉梅瑟所吩咐他們的一切法律、典章和律例，我不再使他們的腳，離開我賜予你們祖先的土地。」
 編下:33.9   但默納舍誘惑猶大和耶路撒冷的居民行惡，甚至上主由以色列子民前所消滅的那些民族。
 編下:33.10  [默納舍受罰改過]  為此，上主曾警告莫舍納和他的百姓，但是他們不肯聽從。
 編下:33.11  因此，上主使亞述王的將官前來攻打他們，用鉤子勾住默納舍，用鎖鏈鎖住，解送到巴比倫。
 編下:33.12  默納舍在這患難中，呼求了上主他的天主，在他祖先的天主前，大發謙卑，
 編下:33.13  哀懇上主，上主便俯允了他的祈求，垂聽了他的哀禱，使他歸回耶路撒冷，恢復了他的王位；默納舍這才知道只有上主是天主。
 編下:33.14  [掃除偶像]  此後，默納舍在達味城外另築了一道城牆，西邊由谷內的基紅起，直到魚門，將敖斐耳圍起，且將城牆加建的很高；在猶大各堅城內派有將帥駐守。
 編下:33.15  又從上主殿內除去了外神和偶像，將他在上主殿的山上和耶路撒冷所建立的祭壇，都一律拆毀，拋在城外，
 編下:33.16  重修了上主的祭壇，在上面獻和平祭和感恩祭，命令猶大人只奉事上主以色列的天主。
 編下:33.17  但是民眾仍然在高丘獻祭，不過只巷上主天主獻祭。
 編下:33.18  [默納舍逝世]  默納舍其餘的事蹟，以及他巷天主所發的禱詞，並諸先見者奉上主，以色列天主的名對他所說的話，都記載在以色列列王實錄上。
 編下:33.19  他如何祈禱和上主如何應允，他未自卑以前的一切罪惡和不忠，以及他在何處建立高丘，立阿舍辣和彫刻的偶像等事，都記載在諸先見者的言行錄上。
 編下:33.20  默納舍與他的祖先同眠，葬在他王宮的花園裏；他的兒子阿孟繼位為王。
 編下:33.21  [阿孟登極]  阿孟登極時年二十二歲，在耶路撒冷作王二年。
 編下:33.22  他行了上主視為惡的事，全如同他父親默納舍；向他父親默納舍所彫刻的一切偶像獻祭膜拜，
 編下:33.23  從沒有像他父親默納舍在上主面前自謙自卑過；阿孟只知罪上加罪。
 編下:33.24  為此，他的臣僕共謀造反，在宮中將他殺死。
 編下:33.25  當地的人民卻將所有反叛阿孟王的人都殺了，立他的兒子約史 雅繼位為王。
    
 編下:34.1   [約史雅登極]  約史雅登極時才八歲，在耶路撒冷作王凡三十一年。
 編下:34.2   他行了上主視為正義的事，走了他祖先達味所走的路，不偏左，也不偏右。
 編下:34.3   [宗教改革] 他在位第八年，雖然年幼，就已經開始尋求他祖先達味的天主；在位第十二年，就已開始清潔猶大和耶路撒冷，除去高丘、木偶、彫像和鑄像。
 編下:34.4   他看著人把巴耳的丘壇拆毀，他親自打碎丘壇上的香爐，將木偶、彫像和鑄像打碎，磨成粉末，撒在祭祀偶像的人的墳上；
 編下:34.5   在祭壇上焚燒了邪神司祭的骨骸，這樣潔淨了猶大和耶路撒冷。
 編下:34.6   他在默納協、厄弗辣因、西默盎、以迄納斐塔里各城和期周圍四郊，也行了同樣的事：
 編下:34.7   拆毀丘壇，將木偶和彫像打碎，將以色列全境內所有的太陽柱都砍倒；然後回了耶路撒冷。
 編下:34.8   [重修聖殿]  約史雅在位第十八年，進行清潔各地和聖殿時，派阿匝里雅的兒子沙番，城尉瑪阿色雅和約阿哈次的兒子約阿黑御史，去修理他的天主上主的聖殿。
 編下:34.9   他們便去見大司祭希耳克雅，將獻於天主殿宇的銀錢當面交給他。這些銀錢是守門的肋未人，由默納協、厄弗辣因和以色列全體遺民，以及猶大、本雅明和耶路撒冷居民那裏收來的。
 編下:34.10  他們再轉交給監督上主殿內工作的人，這些人發給在上主殿內工作和修理殿宇的人，
 編下:34.11  即發給木匠和泥水匠，或購買鑿好的石頭和作木架及棟樑的木材，來修理歷代猶大王失修的建築。
 編下:34.12  這些工人都勤於操作，監管他們工作的監督是默辣黎族的肋未人雅哈特與敖巴狄雅，和刻哈特族的則加黎雅與默叔藍；尚有精於樂器的肋未人，
 編下:34.13  兼管搬運的人，督促做各種工作的人。肋未人中還有些作書記，作職員，作門丁的。
 編下:34.14  [法律書的發現]  人們將獻於上主殿宇的銀錢拿出來的時候，大司祭希耳克雅發現了上主藉梅瑟所頒布的法律書。
 編下:34.15  希耳克雅告訴書記沙番說：「我在上主殿內發現了法律書。」遂將書交給了沙番。
 編下:34.16  沙番帶著那卷書去見君王，向君王回報說：「凡陛下命你僕人所辦的事，都已照辦了。
 編下:34.17  已將上主殿內所有的銀錢倒出來，交在監督和工人的手裏了。」
 編下:34.18  書記沙番繼而向君王報告說：「大司祭希耳克雅還交給我一卷書。」沙番就在君王面前朗誦了那書。
 編下:34.19  君王一聽了法律上的話，就撕裂了自己的衣服，
 編下:34.20  立即吩咐希耳克雅、沙番的兒子阿希甘、米加的兒子阿貝冬、書記沙番和君王的臣僕阿撒雅說：
 編下:34.21  「你們快去為我，為以色列的遺民和猶大，詢問上主關於所發現的這書上的話，因為我們的祖先沒有遵守上主的話，未照這書上所記載的去行，所以上主才向我們大發憤怒。」
 編下:34.22  [胡耳達女先知的神諭]  希耳克雅和君王所派的人，去見胡耳達女先知，她是掌管禮服的沙隆的妻子─沙隆是哈色辣的孫子，堤刻瓦的兒子。胡耳達住在耶路撒冷新區；他們對她說明來意，
 編下:34.23  她就回答他們說：「上主以色列的天主這樣說：你們回報那派你們來見我的人說：
 編下:34.24  上主這意說：我必要使在猶大王前所讀的書中記載的災禍和一切詛咒，降在這地和這地上的居民身上，
 編下:34.25  因為他們捨棄了我，向別的神焚香；他們所做的，無不惹我動怒，所以我的怒火要向這地方發作，總不熄滅。
 編下:34.26  至於那派你們來求問上主的猶大王，你們要這樣對他說：上主以色列的天主這樣說：因為你聽了這些話，
 編下:34.27  因為你一聽了我指著這地和這地上的居民所說的話，你的心就已感化，在上主面前自卑自賤，撕裂了你的衣服，在我面前痛哭，我也應允了你：上主的斷語。
 編下:34.28  我要使你與你祖先團聚，你要安歸你的墳墓；你的眼睛見不到我在這地上和這些居民身上要降的災禍。」他們回去，將她說的話報告給君王。
 編下:34.29  [重立盟約]  君王於是派人召集猶大和耶路撒冷所有的長老來；
 編下:34.30  君王同所有的猶大人，耶路撒冷的居民、司祭、肋未人、全體人民，不分貴賤，都上到上主的殿內，在上主殿內，將尋獲的約書上的一切話，讀給他們聽。
 編下:34.31  君王站在高台上，在上主面前立約，要全心全意服從上主，遵守他的誡命，他的典章和他的法律，履行這書上所載的盟約的話；
 編下:34.32  他使所有的耶路撒冷的人都接受這盟約。於是耶路撒冷的居民都按照上主，他們祖先天主的盟約而行。
 編下:34.33  約史雅將以色列子民各地的一切可恥之物除去，使所有在以色列的人，都奉事上主他們的天主。約史雅王在世時，他們從未離棄上主，他們祖先的天主。
    
 編下:35.1   [慶祝逾越節]  事後，約史雅王在耶路撒冷向上主舉行逾越節；正月十四日宰殺了逾越節羔羊，
 編下:35.2   分派了司祭的職務，勉勵他們在上主殿內服務；
 編下:35.3   然後對那些教誨以色列民眾並祝聖於上主的肋未人說：「你們應將約櫃放在以色列王達味的兒子撒羅滿所建的殿裏，不必再用肩扛；從今以後，只應為上主你們的天主，和他的人民以色列服務。
 編下:35.4   你們應依家族和班次，照以色列王達味和他的兒子撒羅滿所規定的，自做準備；
 編下:35.5   要按照家族的班次，照平民兄弟們的需要，在聖殿內值班，每班內應有幾個肋未家族的人。
 編下:35.6   應宰殺逾越節羔羊，聖潔自己，為你們弟兄預備一切，全照上主藉著梅瑟吩咐的進行。」
 編下:35.7   約史雅於是送給了百姓綿羊羔和山羔羊，凡三萬隻，為在場的人作逾越節的祭品；此外，還有公牛羊三千頭，全是出於君王所有的。
 編下:35.8   他的朝臣也自願給百姓、司祭和肋未人贈送祭品。天主聖殿的主管希耳克雅、則加黎雅和耶希耳，送給了司祭們二千六百之羔羊，三百頭公牛，作為逾越節的祭品。
 編下:35.9   肋未人的領袖苛納尼雅和他的兩個兄弟舍瑪雅和乃塔乃耳，以及哈沙彼雅、耶依耳和約匝巴得，送給了肋未人五千隻羔羊，五百頭公牛，作為逾越節的祭品。
 編下:35.10  職務安排好了以後，司祭各站在自己的地方，肋未人亦各按班次，照君王所吩咐的，站在自己的地方，
 編下:35.11  宰殺逾越節羔羊，司祭由他們手中接過血來灑，肋未人繼續剝去牲皮，
 編下:35.12  將應燒的一份取出來，交給平民按家族分成的小組，叫他們依照梅瑟法律所載，奉獻給上主；他們也照樣奉獻了公牛。
 編下:35.13  然後按照常例，用火烤熟逾越節羔羊，用鍋或鼎，或罐煮熟其於奉獻的聖物，迅速分給百姓。
 編下:35.14  這以後纔為自己和司祭預備，因為亞郎的子孫司祭們，直到晚上，忙於奉獻全燔祭和脂油，故此肋未人應為自己，也為亞郎的子孫司祭準備一切。
 編下:35.15  阿撒夫的後裔歌詠者，遵照達味、阿撒夫、赫曼和王的先見者耶杜通的規定，立在自己的地方；門丁看守各門，無須離開自己的職守，因為有他們的弟兄肋未人為他們準備。
 編下:35.16  這樣，一切為供奉上主，守逾越節，在上主的祭壇上奉獻全燔祭的事務，當日都依照約史雅王的吩咐準備好了。
 編下:35.17  在場的以色列子民當時便舉行逾越節，並舉行無酵節七天。
 編下:35.18  自先知撒慕爾時日以來，在以色列就從未曾舉行過這樣的逾越節；以色列各君王也沒有舉行過像約史雅同司祭、肋未人，在場的猶大和以色列民眾，並耶路撒冷居民所舉行的這逾越節 。
 編下:35.19  這次逾越節是在約史雅第十八年上舉行的。
 編下:35.20  [約史雅逝世]  這些事以後，約史雅修理完了聖殿，埃及王乃苛上來攻打幼發拉的河畔的加革米士。約史雅便出兵抵抗他。
 編下:35.21  乃苛派使者對約史雅說：「猶大王，我與你有什麼關係﹖我今天來不是攻擊你，而是要進攻幼發拉的河，並且天主吩咐我急速前進；你不要干預天主的事，因為天主與我同在，免得他毀滅你。」
 編下:35.22  約史雅不但不轉身離去，反而堅持要攻打他，不聽從天主藉乃苛所說的話，遂到默基多平原去作戰。
 編下:35.23  弓手射傷了約史雅王，王對自己的僕人說：「我受了重傷，將我帶走! 」
 編下:35.24  他的僕人將他由所乘的車中抱出來，放在另一輛車上，帶到耶路撒冷，王去了世，葬在他祖先的墳墓裏。全猶大和耶路撒冷都舉喪哀悼約史雅，
 編下:35.25  耶肋米亞為約史雅作了一首輓歌，所有歌唱的男女都唱這首歌詞來哀悼約史雅，直到今日，甚至在以色列中成了常例。這些歌詞都載在輓歌集內。
 編下:35.26  約史雅其餘的事蹟，以及他遵循上主法律所載而行的大業，
 編下:35.27  和他前後所行的事蹟，都記載在以色列和猶大列王時錄上。
    
 編下:36.1   [約阿哈次王朝]  當地的人民立了約史雅的兒子約阿哈次在耶路撒冷繼父位為王。
 編下:36.2   約阿哈次登極時二十三歲，在耶路撒冷為王三個月，
 編下:36.3   因為埃及王在耶路撒冷廢了他，且要那地方納一百「塔冷通」銀子，一「塔冷通」金子的罰款。
 編下:36.4   以後，埃及王立了他的兄弟厄里雅金為猶大和耶路撒冷名叫約雅金；乃苛將他的兄弟約阿哈次帶到埃及去了。
 編下:36.5   [約雅金王朝]  約雅金登極時年二十五歲，在耶路撒冷為王凡十一年。他行了上主視為惡的事。
 編下:36.6   巴比倫王拿步高前來攻擊他，用銅鏈將他綑住，帶往巴比倫 。
 編下:36.7   拿步高也將上主殿內一部份器皿帶到巴比倫，安置在巴比倫他的神廟裏 。
 編下:36.8   約雅金其餘的事蹟，以及他所行的醜惡，和他遭遇的一切，都記載在以色列和猶大列王實錄上。他的兒子耶苛尼雅繼位為王。
 編下:36.9   [耶苛尼雅王朝]  耶苛尼雅即位時年十八歲，在耶路撒冷作王三個月又十天。他行了上主視為惡的事。
 編下:36.10  次年歲首，拿步高派人來，將耶苛尼雅和上主殿內的珍器，帶往巴比倫，立了他的叔父漆德克雅為王，管理猶大和耶路撒冷。
 編下:36.11  [猶大滅亡]  漆德克雅登極時年二十一歲，在耶路撒冷為王凡十一年。
 編下:36.12  他行了上主視為惡的事，雖然先知耶肋米亞奉上主的命來勸勉他，他仍不在耶肋米亞面前自謙自卑。
 編下:36.13  拿步高王雖曾叫他指著天主起誓，他仍背叛了拿步高；更加執拗頑固，總不肯歸依上主，以色列的天主。
 編下:36.14  此外，所有的司祭首長和百姓罪上加罪，仿傚了異族所行的一切醜惡之事，污辱了上主在耶路撒冷祝聖的殿宇。
 編下:36.15  上主他們祖先的天主，由於愛惜自己的百姓和自己的居所，時常不斷派遣使者警戒他們；
 編下:36.16  無奈他們都嘲笑了天主的使者，輕視了他的勸告，譏笑了他的先知，致使上主的怒火發洩在他的百姓身上，直到無法救治。
 編下:36.17  因此，上主使加色丁人的君王前來攻打他們，用刀將他們的壯丁在聖殿裏殺死，沒有憐恤他們的幼男少女，以及白髮耆老；上主將所有的人都交在敵人手中。
 編下:36.18  加色丁人王又將天主殿內所有的大小器皿，上主殿內的寶物，君王和朝臣的寶物，都帶往巴比倫，
 編下:36.19  焚毀了上主的殿宇，拆壞了耶路撒冷的城牆，燒了城中所有的宮殿，毀壞了城內一切珍貴的器皿；
 編下:36.20  凡免於刀下的人，都被擄到巴比倫去，作他及他子孫的奴僕，直到波斯帝國興起。
 編下:36.21  這樣，就應驗了上主藉耶肋米亞的口所說的話：「直到這地域補享了它的安息年，應該在荒蕪期中獲享安息，直到七十年。」
 編下:36.22  [居魯士頒發上諭]  波斯王居魯士元年，為應驗上主藉耶肋米加的口所說的話，上主感動了波斯王居魯士的心，叫他出一道號令，向全國頒發上諭說 ：
 編下:36.23  「波思王居魯士這樣說：上主的神「雅威，」將地上萬國交給了我，囑咐我在猶大的耶路撒冷為他建築一座殿宇，你們中間凡作他子民的，可以上去；願他的神與他同在! 」 [編年記下完篇]
    
 2chr:1.     [2 Chronicles]   36 chapters   [編年記下]  [英文版]
    
 2chr:1.1.   Solomon, son of David, strengthened his hold on the kingdom, for the LORD, his God, was with him, constantly making him more renowned.
 2chr:1.2.   He sent a summons to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, the judges, the princes of all Israel, and the family heads;
 2chr:1.3.   and, accompanied by the whole assembly, he went to the high place at Gibeon, because the meeting tent of God, made in the desert by Moses, the LORD'S servant, was there.
 2chr:1.4.   (The ark of God, however, David had brought up from Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem, where he had provided a place and pitched a tent for it.)
 2chr:1.5.   The bronze altar made by Bezalel, son of Uri, son of Hur, he put in front of the LORD'S Dwelling on the high place. There Solomon and the assembly consulted the LORD,
 2chr:1.6.   and Solomon offered sacrifice in the LORD'S presence on the bronze altar at the meeting tent; he offered a thousand holocausts upon it.
 2chr:1.7.   That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Make a request of me, and I will grant it to you."
 2chr:1.8.   Solomon answered God: "You have shown great favor to my father David, and you have allowed me to succeed him as king.
 2chr:1.9.   Now, LORD God, may your promise to my father David be fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.
 2chr:1.10.  Give me, therefore, wisdom and knowledge to lead this people, for otherwise who could rule this great people of yours?"
 2chr:1.11.  God then replied to Solomon: "Since this has been your wish and you have not asked for riches, treasures and glory, nor for the life of those who hate you, nor even for a long life for yourself, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge in order to rule my people over whom I have made you king,
 2chr:1.12.  wisdom and knowledge are given you; but I will also give you riches, treasures and glory, such as kings before you never had, nor will those have them who come after you."
 2chr:1.13.  Solomon returned to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from the meeting tent, and became king over Israel.
 2chr:1.14.  He gathered together chariots and drivers, so that he had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand drivers he could station in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.
 2chr:1.15.  The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, while cedars became as numerous as the sycamores of the foothills.
 2chr:1.16.  Solomon also imported horses from Egypt and Cilicia. The king's agents would acquire them by purchase from Cilicia,
 2chr:1.17.  and would then bring up chariots from Egypt and export them at six hundred silver shekels, with the horses going for a hundred and fifty shekels. At these rates they served as middlemen for all the Hittite and Aramean kings.
 2chr:1.18.  Solomon gave orders for the building of a house to honor the LORD and also of a house for his own royal estate.
    
 2chr:2.1.   He conscripted seventy thousand men to carry stone and eighty thousand to cut the stone in the mountains, and over these he placed three thousand six hundred overseers.
 2chr:2.2.   Moreover, Solomon sent this message to Huram, king of Tyre: "As you dealt with my father David, sending him cedars to build a house for his dwelling, so deal with me.
 2chr:2.3.   I intend to build a house for the honor of the LORD, my God, and to consecrate it to him, for the burning of fragrant incense in his presence, for the perpetual display of the showbread, for holocausts morning and evening, and for the sabbaths, new moons, and festivals of the LORD, our God: such is Israel's perpetual obligation.
 2chr:2.4.   And the house I intend to build must be large, for our God is greater than all other gods.
 2chr:2.5.   Yet who is really able to build him a house, since the heavens and even the highest heavens cannot contain him? And who am I that I should build him a house, unless it be to offer incense in his presence?
 2chr:2.6.   Now, send me men skilled at work in gold, silver, bronze and iron, in purple, crimson, and violet fabrics, and who know how to do engraved work, to join the craftsmen who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom my father David appointed.
 2chr:2.7.   Also send me boards of cedar, cypress and cabinet wood from Lebanon, for I realize that your servants know how to cut the wood of the Lebanon. My servants will labor with yours
 2chr:2.8.   in order to prepare for me a great quantity of wood, since the house I intend to build must be lofty and wonderful.
 2chr:2.9.   I will furnish as food for your servants, the hewers who cut the wood, twenty thousand kors of wheat, twenty thousand kors of barley, twenty thousand measures of wine, and twenty thousand measures of oil."
 2chr:2.10.  Huram, king of Tyre, wrote an answer which he sent to Solomon: "Because the LORD loves his people, he has placed you over them as king."
 2chr:2.11.  He added: "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, for having given King David a wise son of intelligence and understanding, who will build a house for the LORD and also a house for his royal estate.
 2chr:2.12.  I am now sending you a craftsman of great skill, Huram-abi,
 2chr:2.13.  son of a Danite woman and of a father from Tyre; he knows how to work with gold, silver, bronze and iron, with stone and wood, with purple, violet, fine linen and crimson, and also how to do all kinds of engraved work and to devise every type of artistic work that may be given him and your craftsmen and the craftsmen of my lord David your father.
 2chr:2.14.  And now, let my lord send to his servants the wheat, barley, oil and wine which he has promised.
 2chr:2.15.  For our part, we will cut trees on Lebanon, as many as you need, and float them down to you at the port of Joppa, whence you may take them up to Jerusalem."
 2chr:2.16.  Thereupon Solomon took a census of all the alien men who were in the land of Israel (following the census David his father had taken of them), who were found to number one hundred fifty-three thousand six hundred.
 2chr:2.17.  Of these he made seventy thousand carriers and eighty thousand cutters in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred overseers to keep the people working.
    
 2chr:3.1.   Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, which had been pointed out to his father David, on the spot which David had selected, the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
 2chr:3.2.   He began to build in the second month of the fourth year of his reign.
 2chr:3.3.   These were the specifications laid down by Solomon for building the house of God: the length was sixty cubits according to the old measure, and the width was twenty cubits;
 2chr:3.4.   the porch which lay before the nave along the width of the house was also twenty cubits, and it was twenty cubits high. He overlaid its interior with pure gold.
 2chr:3.5.   The nave he overlaid with cypress wood which he covered with fine gold, embossing on it palms and chains.
 2chr:3.6.   He also decorated the building with precious stones.
 2chr:3.7.   The house, its beams and thresholds, as well as its walls and its doors, he overlaid with gold, and he engraved cherubim upon the walls. (The gold was from Parvaim.)
 2chr:3.8.   He also made the room of the holy of holies. Its length corresponded to the width of the house, twenty cubits, and its width was also twenty cubits. He overlaid it with fine gold to the amount of six hundred talents.
 2chr:3.9.   The weight of the nails was fifty gold shekels. The upper chambers he likewise covered with gold.
 2chr:3.10.  For the room of the holy of holies he made two cherubim of carved workmanship, which were then overlaid with gold.
 2chr:3.11.  The wings of the cherubim spanned twenty cubits:
 2chr:3.12.  one wing of each cherub, five cubits in length, extended to a wall of the building, while the other wing, also five cubits in length, touched the corresponding wing of the second cherub.
 2chr:3.13.  The combined wingspread of the two cherubim was thus twenty cubits. They stood upon their own feet, facing toward the nave.
 2chr:3.14.  He made the veil of violet, purple, crimson and fine linen, and had cherubim embroidered upon it.
 2chr:3.15.  In front of the building he set two columns thirty-five cubits high; the capital topping each was of five cubits.
 2chr:3.16.  He worked out chains in the form of a collar with which he encircled the capitals of the columns, and he made a hundred pomegranates which he set on the chains.
 2chr:3.17.  He set up the columns to correspond with the nave, one for the right side and the other for the left, and he called the one to the right Jachin and the one to the left Boaz.
    
 2chr:4.1.   Then he made a bronze altar twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high.
 2chr:4.2.   He also made the molten sea. It was perfectly round, ten cubits in diameter, five in depth, and thirty in circumference;
 2chr:4.3.   below the rim a ring of figures of oxen encircled the sea, ten to the cubit, all the way around; there were two rows of these cast in the same mold with the sea.
 2chr:4.4.   It rested on twelve oxen, three facing north, three west, three south, and three east, with their haunches all toward the center; the sea rested on their backs.
 2chr:4.5.   It was a handbreadth thick, and its brim was made like that of a cup, being lily-shaped. It had a capacity of three thousand measures.
 2chr:4.6.   Then he made ten basins for washing, placing five of them to the right and five to the left. Here were cleansed the victims for the holocausts; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.
 2chr:4.7.   He made the lampstands of gold, ten of them as was prescribed, and placed them in the nave, five to the right and five to the left.
 2chr:4.8.   He made ten tables and had them set in the nave, five to the right and five to the left; and he made a hundred golden bowls.
 2chr:4.9.   He made the court of the priests and the great courtyard and the gates of the courtyard; the gates he overlaid with bronze.
 2chr:4.10.  The sea was placed off to the southeast from the right side of the temple.
 2chr:4.11.  Huram also made the pots, the shovels and the bowls. Huram thus completed the work he had to do for King Solomon in the house of God:
 2chr:4.12.  two columns, two nodes for the capitals topping these two columns, and two networks covering the nodes of the capitals topping the columns;
 2chr:4.13.  also four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, with two rows of pomegranates to each network, to cover the two nodes of the capitals topping the columns.
 2chr:4.14.  He made the stands, and the basins on the stands;
 2chr:4.15.  one sea, and the twelve oxen under it;
 2chr:4.16.  likewise the pots, the shovels and the forks. Huram-abi made all these articles for King Solomon from polished bronze for the house of the LORD.
 2chr:4.17.  The king had them cast in the Jordan region, in the clayey ground between Succoth and Zeredah.
 2chr:4.18.  Solomon made all these vessels, so many in number that the weight of the bronze was not ascertained.
 2chr:4.19.  Solomon had all these articles made for the house of God: the golden altar, the tables on which the showbread lay,
 2chr:4.20.  the lampstands and their lamps of pure gold which were to burn according to prescription before the sanctuary,
 2chr:4.21.  flowers, lamps and gold tongs (this was the purest gold),
 2chr:4.22.  snuffers, bowls, cups and firepans of pure gold. As for the entry to the house, its inner doors to the holy of holies, as well as the doors to the nave, were of gold.
    
 2chr:5.1.   When all the work undertaken by Solomon for the temple of the LORD had been completed, he brought in the dedicated offerings of his father David, putting the silver, the gold and all the other articles in the treasuries of the house of God.
 2chr:5.2.   At Solomon's order the elders of Israel and all the leaders of the tribes, the princes of the Israelite ancestral houses, came to Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD'S covenant from the City of David (which is Zion).
 2chr:5.3.   All the men of Israel assembled before the king during the festival of the seventh month.
 2chr:5.4.   When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark,
 2chr:5.5.   and they carried the ark and the meeting tent with all the sacred vessels that were in the tent; it was the levitical priests who carried them.
 2chr:5.6.   King Solomon and the entire community of Israel gathered about him before the ark were sacrificing sheep and oxen so numerous that they could not be counted or numbered.
 2chr:5.7.   The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place beneath the wings of the cherubim in the sanctuary, the holy of holies of the temple.
 2chr:5.8.   The cherubim had their wings spread out over the place of the ark, sheltering the ark and its poles from above.
 2chr:5.9.   The poles were long enough so that their ends could be seen from that part of the holy place nearest the sanctuary; however, they could not be seen beyond. The ark has remained there to this day.
 2chr:5.10.  There was nothing in it but the two tablets which Moses put there on Horeb, the tablets of the covenant which the LORD made with the Israelites at their departure from Egypt.
 2chr:5.11.  When the priests came out of the holy place (all the priests who were present had purified themselves without reference to the rotation of their various classes),
 2chr:5.12.  the Levites who were singers, all who belonged to Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and brothers, clothed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps and lyres, stood east of the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets.
 2chr:5.13.  When the trumpeters and singers were heard as a single voice praising and giving thanks to the LORD, and when they raised the sound of the trumpets, cymbals and other musical instruments to "give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever," the building of the LORD'S temple was filled with a cloud.
 2chr:5.14.  The priests could not continue to minister because of the cloud, since the LORD'S glory filled the house of God.
    
 2chr:6.1.   Then Solomon said: "The LORD intends to dwell in the dark cloud.
 2chr:6.2.   I have truly built you a princely house and dwelling, where you may abide forever."
 2chr:6.3.   Turning about, the king greeted the whole community of Israel as they stood.
 2chr:6.4.   He said: "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his own mouth made a promise to my father David and by his own hands brought it to fulfillment. He said:
 2chr:6.5.   'Since the day I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen any city from among all the tribes of Israel for the building of a temple to my honor, nor have I chosen any man to be commander of my people Israel;
 2chr:6.6.   but now I choose Jerusalem, where I shall be honored, and I choose David to rule my people Israel.'
 2chr:6.7.   My father David wished to build a temple to the honor of the LORD, the God of Israel,
 2chr:6.8.   but the LORD said to him: 'In wishing to build a temple to my honor, you do well.
 2chr:6.9.   However, you shall not build the temple; rather, your son whom you will beget shall build the temple to my honor.'
 2chr:6.10.  "Now the LORD has fulfilled the promise that he made. I have succeeded my father David and have taken my seat on the throne of Israel, as the LORD foretold, and I have built the temple to the honor of the LORD, the God of Israel.
 2chr:6.11.  And I have placed there the ark, in which abides the covenant of the LORD which he made with the Israelites."
 2chr:6.12.  Solomon then took his place before the altar of the LORD in the presence of the whole community of Israel and stretched forth his hands.
 2chr:6.13.  He had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, which he had placed in the middle of the courtyard. Having ascended it, Solomon knelt in the presence of the whole of Israel and stretched forth his hands toward heaven.
 2chr:6.14.  Thus he prayed: "LORD, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth; you keep your covenant and show kindness to your servants who are wholeheartedly faithful to you.
 2chr:6.15.  You have kept the promise you made to my father David, your servant. With your own mouth you spoke it, and by your own hand you have brought it to fulfillment this day.
 2chr:6.16.  Now, therefore, LORD, God of Israel, keep the further promise you made to my father David, your servant, when you said, 'You shall always have someone from your line to sit before me on the throne of Israel, provided only that your descendants look to their conduct so as always to live according to my law, even as you have lived in my presence.'
 2chr:6.17.  Now, LORD, God of Israel, may this promise which you made to your servant David be confirmed.
 2chr:6.18.  "Can it indeed be that God dwells with mankind on earth? If the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain you, how much less this temple which I have built!
 2chr:6.19.  Look kindly on the prayer and petition of your servant, O LORD, my God, and listen to the cry of supplication your servant makes before you.
 2chr:6.20.  May your eyes watch day and night over this temple, the place where you have decreed you shall be honored; may you heed the prayer which I your servant offer toward this place.
 2chr:6.21.  Listen to the petitions of your servant and of your people Israel which they direct toward this place. Listen from your heavenly dwelling, and when you have heard, pardon.
 2chr:6.22.  "When any man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath of execration against himself, and when he comes for the oath before your altar in this temple,
 2chr:6.23.  listen from heaven: take action and pass judgment on your servants, requiting the wicked man and holding him responsible for his conduct, but absolving the innocent and rewarding him according to his virtue.
 2chr:6.24.  When your people Israel have sinned against you and are defeated by the enemy, but afterward they return and praise your name, and they pray to you and entreat you in this temple,
 2chr:6.25.  listen from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which you gave them and their fathers.
 2chr:6.26.  When the sky is closed so that there is no rain, because they have sinned against you, but then they pray toward this place and praise your name, and they withdraw from sin because you afflict them,
 2chr:6.27.  listen in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants and of your people Israel. But teach them the right way to live, and send rain upon your land which you gave your people as their heritage.
 2chr:6.28.  When there is famine in the land, when there is pestilence, or blight, or mildew, or locusts, or caterpillars; when their enemies besiege them at any of their gates; whenever there is a plague or sickness of any kind;
 2chr:6.29.  when any Israelite of all your people offers a prayer or petition of any kind, and in awareness of his affliction and pain, stretches out his hands toward this temple,
 2chr:6.30.  listen from your heavenly dwelling place, and forgive. Knowing his heart, render to everyone according to his conduct, for you alone know the hearts of men.
 2chr:6.31.  So may they fear you and walk in your ways as long as they live on the land you gave our fathers.
 2chr:6.32.  "For the foreigner, too, who is not of your people Israel, when he comes from a distant land to honor your great name, your mighty power, and your outstretched arm, when they come in prayer to this temple,
 2chr:6.33.  listen from your heavenly dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner entreats you, that all the peoples of the earth may know your name, fearing you as do your people Israel, and knowing that this house which I have built is dedicated to your honor.
 2chr:6.34.  "When your people go forth to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and pray to you in the direction of this city and of the house I have built to your honor,
 2chr:6.35.  listen from heaven to their prayer and petition, and defend their cause.
 2chr:6.36.  When they sin against you (for there is no man who does not sin), and in your anger against them you deliver them to the enemy, so that their captors deport them to another land, far or near,
 2chr:6.37.  when they repent in the land where they are captive and are converted, when they entreat you in the land of their captivity and say, 'We have sinned and done wrong; we have been wicked,'
 2chr:6.38.  and with their whole heart and with their whole soul they turn back to you in the land of those who hold them captive, when they pray in the direction of their land which you gave their fathers, and of the city you have chosen, and of the house which I have built to your honor,
 2chr:6.39.  listen from your heavenly dwelling place, hear their prayer and petitions, and uphold their cause. Forgive your people who have sinned against you.
 2chr:6.40.  My God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place.
 2chr:6.41.  And now, "Advance, LORD God, to your resting place, you and the ark of your majesty. May your priests, LORD God, be clothed with salvation, may your faithful ones rejoice in good things.
 2chr:6.42.  LORD God, reject not the plea of your anointed, remember the devotion of David, your servant."
    
 2chr:7.1.   When Solomon had ended his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the holocaust and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
 2chr:7.2.   But the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.
 2chr:7.3.   All the Israelites looked on while the fire came down and the glory of the LORD was upon the house, and they fell down upon the pavement with their faces to the earth and adored, praising the LORD, "for he is good, for his mercy endures forever."
 2chr:7.4.   The king and all the people were offering sacrifices before the LORD.
 2chr:7.5.   King Solomon offered as sacrifice twenty-two thousand oxen, and one hundred twenty thousand sheep.
 2chr:7.6.   Thus the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. The priests were standing at their stations, as were the Levites, with the musical instruments of the LORD which King David had made for "praising the LORD, for his mercy endures forever," when David used them to accompany the hymns. Across from them the priests blew the trumpets and all Israel stood.
 2chr:7.7.   Then Solomon consecrated the middle part of the court which lay before the house of the LORD; there he offered the holocausts and the fat of the peace offerings, since the bronze altar which Solomon had made could not hold the holocausts, the cereal offerings and the fat.
 2chr:7.8.   On this occasion Solomon and with him all Israel, who had assembled in very large numbers from Labo of Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt, celebrated the festival for seven days.
 2chr:7.9.   On the eighth day they held a special meeting, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the feast for seven days.
 2chr:7.10.  On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people back to their tents, rejoicing and glad at heart at the good things the LORD had done for David, for Solomon, and for his people Israel.
 2chr:7.11.  Solomon completed the house of the LORD and the royal palace; he successfully accomplished everything he had planned to do in regard to the house of the LORD and his own house.
 2chr:7.12.  The LORD appeared to Solomon during the night and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and I have chosen this place for my house of sacrifice.
 2chr:7.13.  If I close heaven so that there is no rain, if I command the locust to devour the land, if I send pestilence among my people,
 2chr:7.14.  and if my people, upon whom my name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek my presence and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and revive their land.
 2chr:7.15.  Now my eyes shall be open and my ears attentive to the prayer of this place.
 2chr:7.16.  And now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever; my eyes and my heart also shall be there always.
 2chr:7.17.  "As for you, if you live in my presence as your father David did, doing all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and ordinances,
 2chr:7.18.  I will establish your royal throne as I covenanted with your father David when I said, 'There shall never be lacking someone of yours as ruler in Israel.'
 2chr:7.19.  But if you turn away and forsake my statutes and commands which I placed before you, if you proceed to venerate and worship strange gods,
 2chr:7.20.  then I will uproot the people from the land I gave them; I will cast from my sight this house which I have consecrated to my honor, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
 2chr:7.21.  This temple which is so exalted--everyone passing by it will be amazed and ask: 'Why has the LORD done this to this land and to this house?'
 2chr:7.22.  And men will answer: 'They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they adopted strange gods and worshiped them and served them. That is why he has brought down upon them all this evil.'"
    
 2chr:8.1.   After the twenty years during which Solomon built the house of the LORD and his own house,
 2chr:8.2.   he built up the cities which Huram had given him, and settled Israelites there.
 2chr:8.3.   Then Solomon went to Hamath of Zoba and conquered it.
 2chr:8.4.   He built Tadmor in the desert region and all the supply cities, which he built in Hamath.
 2chr:8.5.   He built Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon, fortified cities with walls, gates and bars;
 2chr:8.6.   also Baalath, all the supply cities belonging to Solomon, and all the cities for the chariots, the cities for the horsemen, and whatever else Solomon decided should be built in Jerusalem, in the Lebanon, and in the entire land under his dominion.
 2chr:8.7.   All the people that remained of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not of Israel--
 2chr:8.8.   that is, their descendants remaining in the land, whom the Israelites had not destroyed--Solomon subjected to forced labor, as they continue to this day.
 2chr:8.9.   But Solomon did not enslave the Israelites for his works. They became soldiers, commanders of his warriors, and commanders of his chariots and his horsemen.
 2chr:8.10.  They were also King Solomon's two hundred and fifty overseers who had charge of the people.
 2chr:8.11.  Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh up from the City of David to the palace which he had built for her, for he said, "No wife of mine shall dwell in the house of David, king of Israel, for the places where the ark of the LORD has come are holy."
 2chr:8.12.  In those times Solomon offered holocausts to the LORD upon the altar of the LORD which he had built in front of the porch,
 2chr:8.13.  as was required day by day according to the command of Moses, and in particular on the sabbaths, at the new moons, and on the fixed festivals three times a year: on the feast of the Unleavened Bread, the feast of Weeks and the feast of Booths.
 2chr:8.14.  And according to the ordinance of his father David he appointed the various classes of the priests for their service, and the Levites according to their functions of praise and ministry alongside the priests, as the daily duty required. The gatekeepers of the various classes stood guard at each gate, since such was the command of David, the man of God.
 2chr:8.15.  There was no deviation from the king's command in any respect relating to the priests and Levites or the treasuries.
 2chr:8.16.  All of Solomon's work was carried out successfully from the day the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid until the house of the LORD had been completed in every detail.
 2chr:8.17.  In those times Solomon went to Ezion-geber and to Elath on the seashore of the land of Edom.
 2chr:8.18.  Huram, through his servants, sent him ships and crewmen acquainted with the sea, who accompanied Solomon's servants to Ophir and brought back from there four hundred and fifty talents of gold to King Solomon.
    
 2chr:9.1.   When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with subtle questions, accompanied by a very numerous retinue and by camels bearing spices, much gold, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and questioned him on every subject in which she was interested.
 2chr:9.2.   Solomon explained to her everything she asked about, and there remained nothing hidden from Solomon that he could not explain to her.
 2chr:9.3.   When the queen of Sheba witnessed Solomon's wisdom, the palace he had built,
 2chr:9.4.   the food at his table, the seating of his ministers, the attendance of his servants and their dress, his cupbearers and their dress, and the holocausts he offered in the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.
 2chr:9.5.   "The account I heard in my country about your deeds and your wisdom is true," she told the king.
 2chr:9.6.   "Yet I did not believe the report until I came and saw with my own eyes. I have discovered that they did not tell me the half of your great wisdom; you have surpassed the stories I heard.
 2chr:9.7.   Happy are your men, happy these servants of yours, who stand before you always and listen to your wisdom.
 2chr:9.8.   Blessed be the LORD, your God, who has been so pleased with you as to place you on his throne as king for the LORD, your God. Because your God has so loved Israel as to will to make it last forever, he has appointed you over them as king to administer right and justice."
 2chr:9.9.   Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty gold talents and a very large quantity of spices, as well as precious stones. There was no other spice like that which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
 2chr:9.10.  The servants of Huram and of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir also brought cabinet wood and precious stones.
 2chr:9.11.  With the cabinet wood the king made stairs for the temple of the LORD and the palace of the king; also lyres and harps for the chanters. The like of these had not been seen before in the land of Judah.
 2chr:9.12.  King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she desired and asked him for, more than she had brought to the king. Then she returned to her own country with her servants.
 2chr:9.13.  The gold that Solomon received each year weighed six hundred and sixty-six gold talents,
 2chr:9.14.  in addition to what was collected from travelers and what the merchants brought. All the kings of Arabia also, and the governors of the country, brought gold and silver to Solomon.
 2chr:9.15.  Moreover, King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold, six hundred shekels of beaten gold going into each shield,
 2chr:9.16.  and three hundred bucklers of beaten gold, three hundred shekels of gold going into each buckler; these the king put in the hall of the Forest of Lebanon.
 2chr:9.17.  King Solomon also made a large ivory throne which he overlaid with fine gold.
 2chr:9.18.  The throne had six steps; a footstool of gold was fastened to it, and there was an arm on each side of the seat, with two lions standing beside the arms.
 2chr:9.19.  Twelve other lions also stood there, one on either side of each step. Nothing like this had ever been produced in any other kingdom.
 2chr:9.20.  Furthermore, all of King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the utensils in the hall of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; silver was not considered of value in Solomon's time.
 2chr:9.21.  For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram. Once every three years the fleet of Tarshish would return with a cargo of gold and silver, ivory, apes and monkeys.
 2chr:9.22.  Thus King Solomon surpassed all the other kings of the earth in riches as well as in wisdom.
 2chr:9.23.  All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon, to hear from him the wisdom which God had put in his heart.
 2chr:9.24.  Year in and year out, each one would bring his tribute-silver and gold articles, garments, weapons, spices, horses and mules.
 2chr:9.25.  Solomon also had four thousand stalls of horses, chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he assigned to the chariot cities and to the king in Jerusalem.
 2chr:9.26.  He was ruler over all the kings from the River to the land of the Philistines and down to the border of Egypt.
 2chr:9.27.  The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, while cedars became as numerous as the sycamores of the foothills.
 2chr:9.28.  Horses were imported for Solomon from Egypt and from all the lands.
 2chr:9.29.  The rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are written, as is well known, in the acts of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer which concern Jeroboam, son of Nebat.
 2chr:9.30.  Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years.
 2chr:9.31.  He rested with his ancestors; he was buried in his father's City of David, and his son Rehoboam succeeded him as king.
    
 2chr:10.1.  Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to proclaim him king.
 2chr:10.2.  When Jeroboam, son of Nebat, heard of this in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon, he returned from Egypt.
 2chr:10.3.  Jeroboam was summoned to the assembly, and he and all Israel said to Rehoboam:
 2chr:10.4.  "Your father laid a heavy yoke upon us. If you now lighten the harsh service and the heavy yoke that your father imposed on us, we will serve you."
 2chr:10.5.  "In three days," he answered them, "come back to me." When the people had departed,
 2chr:10.6.  King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had been in the service of his father during Solomon's lifetime, asking, "What answer do you advise me to give this people?"
 2chr:10.7.  They replied, "If you will deal kindly with this people and give in to them, acceding to their request, they will be your servants forever."
 2chr:10.8.  But he ignored the advice the elders had given him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were in his service.
 2chr:10.9.  He said to them, "What answer do you advise me to give this people, who have asked me to lighten the yoke my father imposed on them?"
 2chr:10.10. The young men who had grown up with him replied: "This is the answer you should give to this people who have said to you, 'Your father laid a heavy yoke upon us, but do you lighten our yoke'; this you should say to them: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's body.
 2chr:10.11. Whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will make it heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!'"
 2chr:10.12. On the third day, Jeroboam and all the people came back to King Rehoboam as he had instructed them to do.
 2chr:10.13. Ignoring the advice the elders had given him, the king gave them a harsh answer,
 2chr:10.14. speaking to them according to the advice of the young men: "My father laid a heavy yoke on you, but I will make it heavier. My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions."
 2chr:10.15. The king would not listen to the people, for this turn of events was divinely ordained to fulfill the prophecy the LORD had uttered to Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, through Ahijah the Shilonite.
 2chr:10.16. When all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered the king. "What share have we in David? We have no heritage in the son of Jesse. Everyone to your tents, O Israel! Now look to your own house, David!" So all Israel went off to their tents.
 2chr:10.17. Rehoboam, therefore, reigned over only those Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.
 2chr:10.18. King Rehoboam then sent out Hadoram, who was superintendent of the forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. Rehoboam himself managed to mount his chariot and flee to Jerusalem.
 2chr:10.19. Thus Israel has been in rebellion against David's house to this day.
    
 2chr:11.1.  On his arrival in Jerusalem Rehoboam gathered together the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand seasoned warriors, to have them fight against Israel and restore the kingdom to him.
 2chr:11.2.  However, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, a man of God:
 2chr:11.3.  "Say to Rehoboam, son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin:
 2chr:11.4.  'Thus says the LORD: You must not march out to fight against your brothers. Let every man return home, for what has occurred I have brought about.'" They obeyed this message of the LORD and gave up the expedition against Jeroboam.
 2chr:11.5.  Rehoboam took up residence in Jerusalem and built fortified cities in Judah.
 2chr:11.6.  He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
 2chr:11.7.  Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,
 2chr:11.8.  Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
 2chr:11.9.  Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
 2chr:11.10. Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron; these were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.
 2chr:11.11. Then he strengthened the fortifications and put commanders in them, with supplies of food, oil and wine.
 2chr:11.12. In every city were shields and spears, and he made them very strong. Thus Judah and Benjamin remained his.
 2chr:11.13. Now the priests and Levites throughout Israel presented themselves to him from all parts of their land,
 2chr:11.14. for the Levites left their assigned pasture lands and their holdings and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons repudiated them as priests of the LORD.
 2chr:11.15. In their place, he himself appointed priests for the high places and satyrs and calves he had made.
 2chr:11.16. After them, all those of the Israelite tribes who firmly desired to seek the LORD, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
 2chr:11.17. Thus they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam, son of Solomon, prevail for three years; for they walked in the way of David and Solomon three years.
 2chr:11.18. Rehoboam took to himself as wife Mahalath, daughter of Jerimoth, son of David and of Abihail, daughter of Eliab, son of Jesse.
 2chr:11.19. She bore him sons: Jehush, Shemariah and Zaham.
 2chr:11.20. After her, he married Maacah, daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith.
 2chr:11.21. Rehoboam loved Maacah, daughter of Absalom, more than all his other wives and concubines; he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
 2chr:11.22. Rehoboam constituted Abijah, son of Maacah, commander among his brothers, for he intended to make him king.
 2chr:11.23. He acted prudently, distributing various of his sons throughout all the districts of Judah and Benjamin, in all the fortified cities; and he furnished them with copious provisions and sought an abundance of wives for them.
    
 2chr:12.1.  After Rehoboam had consolidated his rule and had become powerful, he abandoned the law of the LORD, he and all Israel with him.
 2chr:12.2.  Thus it happened that in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak, king of Egypt, attacked Jerusalem, for they had been unfaithful to the LORD.
 2chr:12.3.  He came up with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen, and there was no counting the army that came with him from Egypt--Libyans, Sukkites and Ethiopians.
 2chr:12.4.  They captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.
 2chr:12.5.  Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the commanders of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them: "Thus says the LORD: 'You have abandoned me, and therefore I have abandoned you to the power of Shishak.'"
 2chr:12.6.  However, the commanders of Israel and the king humbled themselves saying, "The LORD is just."
 2chr:12.7.  When the LORD saw that they had humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: "Because they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them; I will give them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem through Shishak.
 2chr:12.8.  But they shall be his servants, that they may know what it is to serve me and what it is to serve earthly kingdoms."
 2chr:12.9.  Therefore Shishak, king of Egypt, attacked Jerusalem and carried off the treasures of the temple of the LORD and of the king's palace. He took everything, including the gold bucklers that Solomon had made.
 2chr:12.10. (To replace them, King Rehoboam made bronze bucklers, which he entrusted to the officers of the guard on duty at the entrance of the royal palace.
 2chr:12.11. Whenever the king visited the temple of the LORD, the troops would come bearing them, and then they would return them to the guardroom.)
 2chr:12.12. Because he had humbled himself, the anger of the LORD turned from him so that it did not destroy him completely; and in Judah, moreover, good deeds were found.
 2chr:12.13. King Rehoboam consolidated his power in Jerusalem and continued to rule; he was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city in which, out of all the tribes of Israel, the LORD chose to be honored. Rehoboam's mother was named Naamah, an Ammonite.
 2chr:12.14. He did evil, for he had not truly resolved to seek the LORD.
 2chr:12.15. The acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are written, as is well known, in the history of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer (his family record). There was war continually between Rehoboam and Jeroboam.
 2chr:12.16. Rehoboam rested with his ancestors; he was buried in the City of David. His son Abijah succeeded him as king.
    
 2chr:13.1.  In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah;
 2chr:13.2.  he reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Michaiah, daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
 2chr:13.3.  Abijah joined battle with a force of four hundred thousand picked warriors, while Jeroboam lined up against him in battle with eight hundred thousand picked and valiant warriors.
 2chr:13.4.  Abijah stood on Mount Zemariam, which is in the highlands of Ephraim, and said: "Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel!
 2chr:13.5.  Do you not know that the LORD, the God of Israel, has given the kingdom of Israel to David forever, to him and to his sons, by a covenant made in salt?
 2chr:13.6.  Yet Jeroboam, son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon, son of David, has stood up and rebelled against his lord!
 2chr:13.7.  Worthless men, scoundrels, joined him and overcame Rehoboam, son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and unthinking, and no match for them.
 2chr:13.8.  But now, do you think you are a match for the kingdom of the LORD commanded by the sons of David, simply because you are a huge multitude and have with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods?
 2chr:13.9.  "Have you not expelled the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests like the peoples of foreign lands? Everyone who comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams becomes a priest of no-gods.
 2chr:13.10. But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him. The priests ministering to the LORD are sons of Aaron, and the Levites also have their offices.
 2chr:13.11. They burn holocausts to the LORD and fragrant incense morning after morning and evening after evening; they display the showbread on the pure table, and the lamps of the golden lampstand burn evening after evening; for we observe our duties to the LORD, our God, but you have abandoned him.
 2chr:13.12. See, God is with us, at our head, and his priests are here with trumpets to sound the attack against you. Do not battle against the LORD, the God of your fathers, O Israelites, for you will not succeed!"
 2chr:13.13. But Jeroboam had an ambush go around them to come at them from the rear; so that while his army faced Judah, his ambush lay behind them.
 2chr:13.14. When Judah turned and saw that they had to battle on both fronts, they cried out to the LORD and the priests sounded the trumpets.
 2chr:13.15. Then the men of Judah shouted; and when they did so, God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
 2chr:13.16. The Israelites fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hands.
 2chr:13.17. Abijah and his people inflicted a severe defeat upon them; five hundred thousand picked men of Israel fell slain.
 2chr:13.18. The Israelites were subdued on that occasion and the Judahites were victorious because they relied on the LORD, the God of their fathers.
 2chr:13.19. Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took cities from him: Bethel and its dependencies, Jeshanah and its dependencies, and Ephron and its dependencies.
 2chr:13.20. Jeroboam did not regain power during the time of Abijah; the LORD struck him down and he died,
 2chr:13.21. while Abijah continued to grow stronger. He took to himself fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
 2chr:13.22. The rest of Abijah's acts, his deeds and his words, are written in the midrash of the prophet Iddo.
 2chr:13.23. Abijah rested with his ancestors; they buried him in the City of David. His son Asa succeeded him as king. During his time, ten years of peace began in the land.
    
 2chr:14.1.  Asa did what was good and pleasing to the LORD, his God,
 2chr:14.2.  removing the heathen altars and the high places, breaking to pieces the sacred pillars, and cutting down the sacred poles.
 2chr:14.3.  He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and its commands.
 2chr:14.4.  He removed the high places and incense stands from all the cities of Judah, and under him the kingdom had peace.
 2chr:14.5.  He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had peace and no war was waged against him during these years, because the LORD had given him peace.
 2chr:14.6.  He said to Judah: "Let us build these cities and surround them with walls, towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, for we have sought the LORD, our God; we sought him, and he has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered.
 2chr:14.7.  Asa had an army of three hundred thousand shield-and lance-bearers from Judah, and two hundred and eighty thousand from Benjamin who carried bucklers and were archers, all of them valiant warriors.
 2chr:14.8.  Zerah the Ethiopian moved against them with a force of one million men and three hundred chariots, and he came as far as Mareshah.
 2chr:14.9.  Asa went out to meet him and set himself in battle array in the valley of Zephathah, near Mareshah.
 2chr:14.10. Asa called upon the LORD, his God, praying: "O LORD, there is none like you to help the powerless against the strong. Help us, O LORD, our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. You are the LORD, our God; let no man prevail against you."
 2chr:14.11. And so the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and they fled.
 2chr:14.12. Asa and those with him pursued them as far as Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell until there were no survivors, for they were crushed before the LORD and his army, which carried away enormous spoils.
 2chr:14.13. Then the Judahites conquered all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD was upon them; they despoiled all the cities, for there was much booty in them.
 2chr:14.14. They attacked also the tents of the cattle-herders and carried off a great number of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.
    
 2chr:15.1.  Upon Azariah, son of Oded, came the spirit of God.
 2chr:15.2.  He went forth to meet Asa and said to him: "Hear me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin! The LORD is with you when you are with him, and if you seek him he will be present to you; but if you abandon him, he will abandon you.
 2chr:15.3.  For a long time Israel had no true God, no priest-teacher and no law,
 2chr:15.4.  but when in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was present to them.
 2chr:15.5.  In that former time there was no peace for anyone to go or come, but there were many terrors upon the inhabitants of the lands.
 2chr:15.6.  Nation crushed nation and city crushed city, for God destroyed them by every kind of adversity.
 2chr:15.7.  But as for you, be strong and do not relax, for your work shall be rewarded."
 2chr:15.8.  When Asa heard these words and the prophecy (Oded the prophet), he was encouraged to remove the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had taken in the highlands of Ephraim, and to restore the altar of the LORD which was before the vestibule of the LORD.
 2chr:15.9.  Then he convened all Judah and Benjamin, together with those of Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who sojourned with them; for many had fled to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD, his God, was with him.
 2chr:15.10. They gathered at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa's reign,
 2chr:15.11. and sacrificed to the LORD at that time seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep of the booty they had brought.
 2chr:15.12. They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul;
 2chr:15.13. and everyone who would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
 2chr:15.14. They swore to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting and with trumpets and horns.
 2chr:15.15. All Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with their whole heart and sought him with complete desire, so that he was present to them. And the LORD gave them rest on every side.
 2chr:15.16. Maacah, the mother of King Asa, he deposed as queen mother because she had made an outrageous object for Asherah; Asa cut this down, smashed it, and burnt it in the Kidron Valley.
 2chr:15.17. Although the high places did not disappear from Israel, yet Asa's heart was undivided as long as he lived.
 2chr:15.18. He brought into the house of God his father's votive offerings and his own: silver, gold, and various utensils.
 2chr:15.19. There was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa's reign.
    
 2chr:16.1.  In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, Baasha, king of Israel, attacked Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent any communication with Asa, king of Judah.
 2chr:16.2.  Asa then brought out silver and gold from the treasuries of the temple of the LORD and of the royal palace and sent them to Ben-hadad, king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, with this message:
 2chr:16.3.  "There is a treaty between you and me, as there was between your father and my father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha, king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me."
 2chr:16.4.  Ben-hadad agreed to King Asa's request and sent the leaders of his troops against the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
 2chr:16.5.  When Baasha heard of it, he left off fortifying Ramah; he stopped his work.
 2chr:16.6.  Then King Asa commandeered all of Judah to carry away the stone and wood with which Baasha had been fortifying Ramah, and with them he fortified Geba and Mizpah.
 2chr:16.7.  At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa, king of Judah, and said to him: "Because you relied on the king of Aram and did not rely on the LORD, your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped your hand.
 2chr:16.8.  Were not the Ethiopians and Libyans a vast army, with great numbers of chariots and drivers? And yet, because you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your power.
 2chr:16.9.  The eyes of the LORD roam over the whole earth, to encourage those who are devoted to him wholeheartedly. You have acted foolishly in this matter, for from now on you will have wars."
 2chr:16.10. But Asa became angry with the seer and imprisoned him in the stocks, so greatly was he enraged at him over this. Asa also oppressed some of his people at this time.
 2chr:16.11. Now the acts of Asa, first and last, can be found recorded in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
 2chr:16.12. In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa contracted a serious disease in his feet. But even in his sickness he did not seek the LORD, but only the physicians.
 2chr:16.13. Asa rested with his ancestors; he died in the forty-first year of his reign.
 2chr:16.14. They buried him in the tomb he had hewn for himself in the City of David, having laid him upon a couch which was filled with spices and various kinds of aromatics compounded into an ointment. They also burned a very great funeral pyre for him.
    
 2chr:17.1.  His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him as king and strengthened his hold against Israel.
 2chr:17.2.  He placed armed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and put garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which his father Asa had taken.
 2chr:17.3.  The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, for he walked in the ways his father had pursued in the beginning, and he did not consult the Baals.
 2chr:17.4.  Rather, he sought the God of his father and observed his commands, and not the practices of Israel.
 2chr:17.5.  As a result, the LORD made his kingdom secure, and all Judah gave Jehoshaphat gifts, so that he enjoyed great wealth and glory.
 2chr:17.6.  Thus he was encouraged to follow the LORD'S ways, and again he removed the high places and the sacred poles from Judah.
 2chr:17.7.  In the third year of his reign he sent his leading men, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
 2chr:17.8.  With them he sent the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah and Tobijah, together with the priests Elishama and Jehoram.
 2chr:17.9.  They taught in Judah, having with them the book containing the law of the LORD; they traveled through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.
 2chr:17.10. Now the fear of the LORD was upon all the kingdoms of the countries surrounding Judah, so that they did not war against Jehoshaphat.
 2chr:17.11. Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and a tribute of silver; and the Arabs also brought him a flock of seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred he-goats.
 2chr:17.12. Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater. He built strongholds and store cities in Judah.
 2chr:17.13. He carried out many works in the cities of Judah, and he had soldiers, valiant warriors, in Jerusalem.
 2chr:17.14. This was their mustering according to their ancestral houses. Of Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, and with him three hundred thousand valiant warriors.
 2chr:17.15. Next to him, Jehohanan the commander, and with him two hundred eighty thousand.
 2chr:17.16. Next to him, Amasiah, son of Zichri, who offered himself to the LORD, and with him two hundred thousand valiant warriors.
 2chr:17.17. From Benjamin: Eliada, a valiant warrior, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and buckler.
 2chr:17.18. Next to him, Jozabad, and with him one hundred and eighty thousand equipped for war.
 2chr:17.19. These were at the service of the king; in addition were those whom the king had placed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.
    
 2chr:18.1.  Jehoshaphat therefore had wealth and glory in abundance; but he became related to Ahab by marriage.
 2chr:18.2.  After some years he went down to Ahab at Samaria; Ahab offered numerous sheep and oxen for him and the people with him, and persuaded him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.
 2chr:18.3.  Ahab, king of Israel, asked Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, "Will you come with me to Ramoth-gilead?" "You and I are as one," was his answer; "your people and my people as well. We will be with you in the battle."
 2chr:18.4.  But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "Seek the word of the LORD at once."
 2chr:18.5.  The king of Israel gathered his prophets, four hundred in number, and asked them, "Shall we go to attack Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?" "Go up," they answered. "God will deliver it over to the king."
 2chr:18.6.  But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there no other prophet of the LORD here whom we may consult?"
 2chr:18.7.  The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, "There is still another through whom we may consult the LORD, but I hate him, for he prophesies not good but always evil about me. That is Micaiah, son of Imlah." Jeshoshaphat said, "Let not your Majesty speak of evil against you."
 2chr:18.8.  So the king of Israel called an official, to whom he said, "Get Micaiah, son of Imlah, at once."
 2chr:18.9.  The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were seated each on his throne, clothed in their robes of state on a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them.
 2chr:18.10. Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, made iron horns for himself and said: "The LORD says, 'With these you shall gore Aram until you have destroyed them.'"
 2chr:18.11. The other prophets prophesied in the same vein, saying: "Go up to Ramoth-gilead. You shall succeed; the LORD will deliver it over to the king."
 2chr:18.12. The messenger who had gone to call Micaiah said to him: "Look now, the prophets unanimously predict good for the king. Let your word, like each of theirs, predict good."
 2chr:18.13. "As the LORD lives," Micaiah answered, "I will say what my God tells me."
 2chr:18.14. When he came to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to fight against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?" "Go up," he answered, "and succeed; they will be delivered into your power."
 2chr:18.15. But the king said to him, "How many times must I adjure you to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?"
 2chr:18.16. Then Micaiah answered: "I see all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD saying, 'These have no master!' Let each of them go back home in peace.'"
 2chr:18.17. The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he prophesies no good about me, but only evil?"
 2chr:18.18. But Micaiah continued: "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD seated on his throne, with the whole host of heaven standing by to his right and to his left.
 2chr:18.19. The LORD asked, 'Who will deceive Ahab, king of Israel, so that he will go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said this, another that,
 2chr:18.20. until a spirit came forward and presented himself to the LORD, saying, 'I will deceive him.' The LORD asked, 'How?'
 2chr:18.21. He answered, 'I will go forth and become a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.' The LORD agreed: 'You shall succeed in deceiving him. Go forth and do this.'
 2chr:18.22. So now the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these your prophets, but the LORD himself has decreed evil against you."
 2chr:18.23. Thereupon Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, came up and slapped Micaiah on the cheek, saying, "Which way did the spirit of the LORD go when he left me to speak to you?"
 2chr:18.24. "You shall find out," Micaiah replied, "on that day when you enter an innermost chamber to hide."
 2chr:18.25. The king of Israel then said: "Seize Micaiah and take him back to Amon, prefect of the city, and to Joash the king's son,
 2chr:18.26. and say, 'This is the king's order: Put this man in prison and feed him scanty rations of bread and water until I return in safety!'"
 2chr:18.27. But Micaiah said, "If ever you return in safety, the LORD has not spoken through me." And he said, "Hear, O peoples, all of you!"
 2chr:18.28. The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead
 2chr:18.29. and the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will go into battle disguised, but you put on your own clothes." So the king of Israel disguised himself and they entered the fray.
 2chr:18.30. Meanwhile, the king of Aram had given his chariot commanders the order, "Fight with no one, small or great, except the king of Israel."
 2chr:18.31. When the commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they exclaimed, "That must be the king of Israel!" and shifted to fight him. But Jehoshaphat cried out and the LORD helped him; God induced them to leave him.
 2chr:18.32. The chariot commanders became aware that he was not the king of Israel and gave up their pursuit of him.
 2chr:18.33. Someone, however, drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the joints of his breastplate. He ordered his charioteer, "Rein about and take me out of the ranks, for I am disabled."
 2chr:18.34. The battle grew fierce during the day, and the king of Israel braced himself up on his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. He died as the sun was setting.
    
 2chr:19.1.  King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem.
 2chr:19.2.  Jehu the seer, son of Hanani, met King Jehoshaphat and said to him: "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? For this reason, wrath is upon you from the LORD.
 2chr:19.3.  Yet some good things are to be found in you, since you have removed the sacred poles from the land and have been determined to seek God."
 2chr:19.4.  Jehoshaphat dwelt in Jerusalem; but he went out again among the people from Beer-sheba to the highlands of Ephraim and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
 2chr:19.5.  He appointed judges in the land, in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,
 2chr:19.6.  and he said to them: "Take care what you do, for you are judging, not on behalf of man, but on behalf of the LORD; he judges with you.
 2chr:19.7.  And now, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Act carefully, for with the LORD, our God there is no injustice, no partiality, no bribe-taking."
 2chr:19.8.  In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some Levites and priests and some of the family heads of Israel to judge in the name of the LORD and to settle quarrels among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
 2chr:19.9.  He gave them this command: "You shall act faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the LORD.
 2chr:19.10. And in every dispute that your brethren living in their cities bring to you, whether it concerns bloodguilt or questions of law, command, statutes, or judgments, warn them lest they become guilty before the LORD and his wrath come upon you and your brethren. Do that and you shall be guiltless.
 2chr:19.11. See now, Amariah is high priest over you in everything that pertains to the LORD, and Zebadiah, son of Ishmael, is leader of the house of Judah in all that pertains to the king; and the Levites will be your officials. Act firmly, and the LORD will be with the good."
    
 2chr:20.1.  After this the Moabites, the Ammonites, and with them some Meunites came to fight against Jehoshaphat.
 2chr:20.2.  The message was brought to Jehoshaphat: "A great multitude is coming against you from across the sea, from Edom; they are already in Hazazon-tamar" (which is En-gedi).
 2chr:20.3.  Jehoshaphat was frightened, and he hastened to consult the LORD. He proclaimed a fast for all Judah.
 2chr:20.4.  Then Judah gathered to seek help from the LORD; from every one of the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
 2chr:20.5.  Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD before the new court,
 2chr:20.6.  and he said: "LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God in heaven, and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand is power and might, and no one can withstand you.
 2chr:20.7.  Was it not you, our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham, your friend?
 2chr:20.8.  They have dwelt in it and they built in it a sanctuary to your honor, saying,
 2chr:20.9.  'When evil comes upon us, the sword of judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you, for your name is in this house, and we will cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save!'
 2chr:20.10. And now, see the Ammonites, Moabites, and those of Mount Seir whom you did not allow Israel to invade when they came from the land of Egypt, but instead they passed them by and did not destroy them.
 2chr:20.11. See how they are now repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you have given us.
 2chr:20.12. O our God, will you not pass judgment on them? We are powerless before this vast multitude that comes against us. We are at a loss what to do, hence our eyes are turned toward you."
 2chr:20.13. All Judah was standing before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their young sons.
 2chr:20.14. And the spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel, son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the clan of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly,
 2chr:20.15. and he said: "Listen, all of Judah, inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! The LORD says to you: 'Do not fear or lose heart at the sight of this vast multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's.
 2chr:20.16. Go down against them tomorrow. You will see them coming up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will come upon them at the end of the wadi which opens on the wilderness of Jeruel.
 2chr:20.17. You will not have to fight in this encounter. Take your places, stand firm, and see how the LORD will be with you to deliver you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or lose heart. Tomorrow go out to meet them, and the LORD will be with you.'"
 2chr:20.18. Then Jehoshaphat knelt down with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD in worship.
 2chr:20.19. Levites from among the Kohathites and Korahites rose to sing the praises of the LORD, the God of Israel, in a resounding chorus.
 2chr:20.20. In the early morning they hastened out to the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were going out, Jehoshaphat halted and said: "Listen to me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Trust in the LORD, your God, and you will be found firm. Trust in his prophets and you will succeed."
 2chr:20.21. After consulting with the people, he appointed some to sing to the LORD and some to praise the holy Appearance as it went forth at the head of the army. They sang: "Give thanks to the LORD, for his mercy endures forever."
 2chr:20.22. At the moment they began their jubilant hymn, the LORD laid an ambush against the Ammonites, Moabites, and those of Mount Seir who were coming against Judah, so that they were vanquished.
 2chr:20.23. For the Ammonites and Moabites set upon the inhabitants of Mount Seir and completely exterminated them. And when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they began to destroy each other.
 2chr:20.24. When Judah came to the watchtower of the desert and looked toward the throng, they saw only corpses fallen on the ground, with no survivors.
 2chr:20.25. Jehoshaphat and his people came to take plunder, and they found an abundance of cattle and personal property, garments and precious vessels. They took so much that they were unable to carry it all; they were three days taking the spoil, so great was it.
 2chr:20.26. On the fourth day they held an assembly in the Valley of Beracah--for there they blessed the LORD; therefore that place has ever since been called the Valley of Beracah.
 2chr:20.27. Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, turned back toward Jerusalem celebrating the joyful victory the LORD had given them over their enemies.
 2chr:20.28. They came to Jerusalem, to the house of the LORD, with harps, lyres and trumpets.
 2chr:20.29. And the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the surrounding lands when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.
 2chr:20.30. Thereafter Jehoshaphat's kingdom enjoyed peace, for his God gave him rest on every side.
 2chr:20.31. Thus Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Azubah, daughter of Shilhi.
 2chr:20.32. He followed the path of his father Asa unswervingly, doing what was right in the LORD'S sight.
 2chr:20.33. But the high places were not removed, nor as yet had the people fixed their hearts on the God of their fathers.
 2chr:20.34. The rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, can be found written in the chronicle of Jehu, son of Hanani, which is inserted in the book of the kings of Israel.
 2chr:20.35. After this, King Jehoshaphat of Judah allied himself with King Ahaziah of Israel, who did evil.
 2chr:20.36. He joined with him in building ships to sail to Tarshish; the fleet was built at Ezion-geber.
 2chr:20.37. But Eliezer, son of Dodavahu from Mareshah, prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the LORD will shatter your work." And the ships were wrecked and were unable to sail to Tarshish.
    
 2chr:21.1.  Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors; he was buried with them in the City of David. Jehoram, his son, succeeded him as king.
 2chr:21.2.  His brothers, sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael and Shephatiah; all these were sons of King Jehoshaphat of Judah.
 2chr:21.3.  Their father gave them numerous gifts of silver, gold and precious objects, together with fortified cities in Judah, but the kingship he gave to Jehoram because he was the first-born.
 2chr:21.4.  When Jehoram had come into his father's kingdom and had consolidated his power, he put to the sword all his brothers and also some of the princes of Israel.
 2chr:21.5.  Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
 2chr:21.6.  He conducted himself like the kings of Israel of the line of Ahab, because one of Ahab's daughters was his wife. He did evil in the sight of the LORD,
 2chr:21.7.  but the LORD would not destroy the house of David because of the covenant he had made with David and because of his promise to give him and his sons a lamp for all time.
 2chr:21.8.  During his time Edom revolted against the sovereignty of Judah; they chose a king of their own.
 2chr:21.9.  Thereupon Jehoram crossed over with his officers and all the chariots he had. He arose by night and broke through the Edomites when they had surrounded him and the commanders of his chariots.
 2chr:21.10. However, Edom has continued in revolt against the sovereignty of Judah down to the present time. Libnah also revolted at that time against Jehoram's sovereignty because he had forsaken the LORD, the God of his fathers.
 2chr:21.11. He also set up high places in the mountains of Judah; he led the inhabitants of Jerusalem into idolatry and seduced Judah.
 2chr:21.12. He received a letter from the prophet Elijah with this message: "Thus says the LORD, the God of your ancestor David: 'Because you have not followed the path of your father Jehoshaphat, nor of Asa, king of Judah,
 2chr:21.13. but instead have walked in the way of the kings of Israel and have led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem into idolatry, as did the house of Ahab, and also because you have murdered your brothers of your father's house who were better than you,
 2chr:21.14. the LORD will strike your people, your children, your wives, and all that is yours with a great plague;
 2chr:21.15. and you shall have severe pains from a disease in your bowels, while your bowels issue forth because of the disease, day after day.'"
 2chr:21.16. Then the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the animosity of the Philistines and of the Arabs who bordered on the Ethiopians.
 2chr:21.17. They came up against Judah, invaded it, and carried away all the wealth found in the king's palace, along with his sons and his wives; there was left to him only one son, Jehoahaz, his youngest.
 2chr:21.18. After these events, the LORD afflicted him with an incurable disease of the bowels.
 2chr:21.19. As time went on until a period of two years had elapsed, his bowels issued forth because of the disease and he died in great pain. His people did not made a pyre for him like that of his fathers.
 2chr:21.20. He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. He departed unloved and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
    
 2chr:22.1.  Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his stead, since all the older sons had been slain by the band that had come into the fort with the Arabs. Thus Ahaziah, son of Jehoram, reigned as the king of Judah.
 2chr:22.2.  He was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother was named Athaliah, daughter of Omri.
 2chr:22.3.  He, too, followed the ways of the house of Ahab, because his mother counseled him to act sinfully.
 2chr:22.4.  To his own destruction, he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as did the house of Ahab, since they were his counselors after the death of his father.
 2chr:22.5.  He was also following their counsel when he accompanied Jehoram, son of Ahab, king of Israel, to battle against Hazael, king of Aram, at Ramoth-gilead. There Jehoram was wounded by the Arameans.
 2chr:22.6.  He returned to Jezreel to be healed of the wounds he had received at Rama in his battle against Hazael, king of Aram. Because of this illness, Ahaziah, son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to visit Jehoram, son of Ahab, in Jezreel.
 2chr:22.7.  Now it was willed by God for Ahaziah's downfall that he should join Jehoram, for after his arrival he rode out with Jehoram to Jehu, son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut down the house of Ahab.
 2chr:22.8.  While Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he also encountered the princes of Judah and the nephews of Ahaziah who were his attendants, and he slew them.
 2chr:22.9.  Then he looked for Ahaziah himself. They caught him where he was hiding in Samaria and brought him to Jehu, who put him to death. They buried him, for they said, "He was the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with his whole heart." There remained in Ahaziah's house no one powerful enough to wield the kingship.
 2chr:22.10. When Athaliah, mother of Ahaziah, learned that her son was dead, she proceeded to kill off all the royal offspring of the house of Judah.
 2chr:22.11. But Jehosheba, a royal princess, secretly took Ahaziah's son Joash from among the king's sons who were about to be slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. In this way Jehosheba, who was the daughter of King Jehoram, a sister of Ahaziah, and wife of Jehoiada the priest, hid the child from Athaliah's sight, so that she did not put him to death.
 2chr:22.12. For six years he remained hidden with them in the house of God, while Athaliah ruled over the land.
    
 2chr:23.1.  In the seventh year, Jehoiada took courage and entered a conspiracy with certain captains: Azariah, son of Jehoram; Ishmael, son of Jehohanan; Azariah, son of Obed; Masseiah, son of Adaiah; and Elishaphat, son of Zichri.
 2chr:23.2.  They journeyed about Judah, gathering the Levites from all the cities of Judah and also the heads of the Israelite families. When they had come to Jerusalem,
 2chr:23.3.  the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. Jehoiada said to them: "Here is the king's son who must reign, as the LORD promised concerning the sons of David.
 2chr:23.4.  This is what you must do: a third of your number, both priests and Levites, who come in on the sabbath must guard the thresholds,
 2chr:23.5.  another third must be at the king's palace, and the final third at the Foundation Gate, when all the people will be in the courts of the LORD'S temple.
 2chr:23.6.  Let no one enter the LORD'S house except the priests and those Levites who are ministering. They may enter because they are holy; but all the other people must observe the prescriptions of the LORD.
 2chr:23.7.  The Levites shall surround the king on all sides, each with his weapon drawn. Whoever tries to enter the house must be slain. Stay with the king wherever he goes."
 2chr:23.8.  The Levites and all Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each brought his men, those who were to come in on the sabbath as well as those who were to depart on the sabbath, since Jehoiada the priest had not dismissed any of the divisions.
 2chr:23.9.  Jehoiada the priest gave the captains the spears, shields and bucklers of King David which were in the house of God.
 2chr:23.10. He stationed all the people, each with his spear in hand, from the southern to the northern extremity of the enclosure, around the altar and the temple on the king's behalf.
 2chr:23.11. Then they brought out the king's son, set the crown and the insignia upon him, and made him king. Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and they cried, "Long live the king!"
 2chr:23.12. When Athaliah heard the din of the people running and acclaiming the king, she went to the people in the temple of the LORD.
 2chr:23.13. She looked, and there was the king standing beside his pillar at the entrance, the officers and the trumpeters around him, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, while the singers with their musical instruments were leading the acclaim. Athaliah tore her garments and cried out, "Treason! treason!"
 2chr:23.14. Then Jehoiada the priest sent out the captains who were in command of the army; he said to them: "Take her outside through the ranks, and if anyone tries to follow her, let him die by the sword. For," the priest continued, "you must not put her to death in the LORD'S temple."
 2chr:23.15. So they seized her, and when she arrived at the entrance to the Horse Gate of the palace, they put her to death there.
 2chr:23.16. Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they should be the LORD'S people.
 2chr:23.17. And all the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed its altars and images, and they slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars.
 2chr:23.18. Then Jehoiada gave the charge of the LORD'S temple into the hands of the levitical priests, to whom David had assigned turns in the temple for offering the holocausts of the LORD, as is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and song, as David had provided.
 2chr:23.19. Moreover, he stationed guards at the gates of the LORD'S temple so that no one unclean in any respect might enter.
 2chr:23.20. Then he took the captains, the nobles, the rulers among the people, and all the people of the land, and led the king out of the LORD'S house. When they had come within the upper gate of the king's house, they seated the king upon the royal throne.
 2chr:23.21. All the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet, now that Athaliah had been put to death by the sword.
    
 2chr:24.1.  Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother, named Zibiah, was from Beer-sheba.
 2chr:24.2.  Joash did what was pleasing to the LORD as long as Jehoiada the priest lived.
 2chr:24.3.  Jehoiada provided him with two wives, and he became the father of sons and daughters.
 2chr:24.4.  After some time, Joash decided to restore the LORD'S temple.
 2chr:24.5.  He called together the priests and Levites and said to them: "Go out to all the cities of Judah and collect money from all Israel that you may repair the house of your God over the years. You must hasten this affair." But the Levites did not hasten.
 2chr:24.6.  Then the king summoned Jehoiada, who was in charge, and said to him: "Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax levied by Moses, the servant of the LORD, and by the assembly of Israel, for the tent of the testimony?"
 2chr:24.7.  For the wicked Athaliah and her sons had damaged the house of God and had even turned over to the Baals the dedicated resources of the LORD'S temple.
 2chr:24.8.  At the king's command, therefore, they made a chest, which they put outside the gate of the LORD'S temple.
 2chr:24.9.  They had it proclaimed throughout Judah and Jerusalem that the tax which Moses, the servant of God, had imposed on Israel in the desert should be brought to the LORD.
 2chr:24.10. All the princes and the people rejoiced; they brought what was asked and cast it into the chest until it was filled.
 2chr:24.11. Whenever the chest was brought to the royal officials by the Levites and they saw that it contained much money, the royal scribe and an overseer for the high priest came, emptied the chest, then took it back and returned it to its place. This they did day after day until they had collected a large sum of money.
 2chr:24.12. Then the king and Jehoiada gave it to the workmen in charge of the labor on the LORD'S temple, who hired masons and carpenters to restore the temple, and also iron-and bronze-smiths to repair it.
 2chr:24.13. The workmen labored, and the task of restoration progressed under their hands. They restored the house of God according to its original form, and reinforced it.
 2chr:24.14. After they had finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and to Jehoiada, who had it made into utensils for the LORD'S temple, utensils for the service and the holocausts, and basins and other gold and silver utensils. They offered holocausts in the LORD'S temple continually throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada.
 2chr:24.15. Jehoiada lived to a ripe old age; he was a hundred and thirty years old when he died.
 2chr:24.16. He was buried in the City of David with the kings, because he had done good in Israel, in particular with respect to God and his temple.
 2chr:24.17. After the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and the king then listened to them.
 2chr:24.18. They forsook the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and began to serve the sacred poles and the idols; and because of this crime of theirs, wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem.
 2chr:24.19. Although prophets were sent to them to convert them to the LORD, the people would not listen to their warnings.
 2chr:24.20. Then the spirit of God possessed Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. He took his stand above the people and said to them: "God says, 'Why are you transgressing the LORD'S commands, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned the LORD, he has abandoned you.'"
 2chr:24.21. But they conspired against him, and at the king's order they stoned him to death in the court of the LORD'S temple.
 2chr:24.22. Thus King Joash was unmindful of the devotion shown him by Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, and slew his son. And as he was dying, he said, "May the LORD see and avenge."
 2chr:24.23. At the turn of the year a force of Arameans came up against Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem, did away with all the princes of the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus.
 2chr:24.24. Though the Aramean force came with few men, the LORD surrendered a very large force into their power, because Judah had abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers. So punishment was meted out to Joash.
 2chr:24.25. After the Arameans had departed from him, leaving him in grievous suffering, his servants conspired against him because of the murder of the son of Jehoiada the priest. They killed him on his sickbed. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
 2chr:24.26. These conspired against him: Zabad, son of Shimeath from Ammon, and Jehozabad, son of Shimrith from Moab.
 2chr:24.27. Of his sons, and the great tribute imposed on him, and of his rebuilding of the house of God, there is a written account in the midrash of the book of the kings. His son Amaziah succeeded him as king.
    
 2chr:25.1.  Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother, named Jehoaddan, was from Jerusalem.
 2chr:25.2.  He did what was pleasing in the sight of the LORD, though not wholeheartedly.
 2chr:25.3.  After he had strengthened his hold on the kingdom, he slew those of his servants who had killed the king, his father;
 2chr:25.4.  but he did not put their children to death, for he acted according to what is written in the law, in the Book of Moses, as the LORD commanded: "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children for their fathers; but only for his own guilt shall a man be put to death."
 2chr:25.5.  Amaziah mustered Judah and placed them, out of all Judah and Benjamin according to their ancestral houses, under leaders of thousands and of hundreds. When he had counted those of twenty years and over, he found them to be three hundred thousand picked men fit for war, capable of handling lance and shield.
 2chr:25.6.  He also hired a hundred thousand valiant warriors from Israel for a hundred talents of silver.
 2chr:25.7.  But a man of God came to him and said: "O king, let not the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel, with any Ephraimite.
 2chr:25.8.  Instead, go on your own, strongly prepared for the conflict; otherwise the LORD will defeat you in the face of the enemy. It is God who has the power to reinforce or to defeat."
 2chr:25.9.  Amaziah answered the man of God, "But what is to be done about the hundred talents that I paid for the troops of Israel?" The man of God replied, "The LORD can give you much more than that."
 2chr:25.10. Amaziah then disbanded the troops that had come to him from Ephraim, and sent them home. They, however, became furiously angry with Judah, and returned home blazing with resentment.
 2chr:25.11. Amaziah now assumed command of his army. They proceeded to the Valley of Salt, and there they killed ten thousand men of Seir.
 2chr:25.12. The Judahites also brought back another ten thousand alive, whom they led to the summit of the Rock and then cast down, so that they were all crushed.
 2chr:25.13. Meanwhile, the mercenaries whom Amaziah had dismissed from battle service with him raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth-horon. They killed three thousand of the inhabitants and took away much booty.
 2chr:25.14. When Amaziah returned from his conquest of the Edomites he brought back with him the gods of the people of Seir, which he set up as his own gods; he bowed down before them and offered sacrifice to them.
 2chr:25.15. Then the anger of the LORD blazed out against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him who said: "Why have you had recourse to this people's gods that could not save their own people from your hand?"
 2chr:25.16. While he was still speaking, however, the king said to him: "Have you been made the king's counselor? Be silent! Why should it be necessary to kill you?" Therefore the prophet desisted. "I know, however," he said, "that God has let you take counsel to your own destruction, because you have done this thing and have refused to hear my counsel."
 2chr:25.17. Having taken counsel, King Amaziah of Judah sent messengers to Joash, son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, the king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us meet each other face to face."
 2chr:25.18. King Joash of Israel sent this reply to King Amaziah of Judah: "The thistle of the Lebanon sent a message to the cedar of the Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son for his wife.' But the wild beasts of the Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle down.
 2chr:25.19. You are thinking, 'See, I have beaten Edom!', and thus ambition makes you proud. Remain at home. Why involve yourself, and Judah with you, in misfortune and failure?"
 2chr:25.20. But Amaziah would not listen, for God had determined to hand them over because they had had recourse to the gods of Edom.
 2chr:25.21. Therefore King Joash of Israel advanced and he and King Amaziah met in battle at Beth-shemesh of Judah.
 2chr:25.22. There Judah was defeated by Israel, and all the Judean soldiers fled homeward.
 2chr:25.23. King Joash of Israel captured Amaziah, king of Judah, son of Joash, son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem. Then he tore down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate, a distance of four hundred cubits.
 2chr:25.24. He took away all the gold and silver and all the vessels he found in the house of God with Obed-edom, together with the treasures of the palace, and hostages as well. Then he returned to Samaria.
 2chr:25.25. Amaziah, son of Joash, king of Judah, survived Joash, son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, by fifteen years.
 2chr:25.26. The rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, can be found written, as is well known, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
 2chr:25.27. Now from the time that Amaziah ceased to follow the LORD, a conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem; hence he fled to Lachish. But they pursued him to Lachish and put him to death there.
 2chr:25.28. They brought him back on horses and buried him with his ancestors in the City of Judah.
    
 2chr:26.1.  All the people of Judah chose Uzziah, though he was but sixteen years of age, and proclaimed him king to succeed his father Amaziah.
 2chr:26.2.  He rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah; this was after King Amaziah had gone to rest with his ancestors.
 2chr:26.3.  Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother, named Jecoliah, was from Jerusalem.
 2chr:26.4.  He pleased the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done.
 2chr:26.5.  He was prepared to seek God as long as Zechariah lived, who taught him to fear God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.
 2chr:26.6.  He went out and fought the Philistines and razed the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod (and built cities in the district of Ashdod and in Philistia).
 2chr:26.7.  God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabs who dwelt in Gurbaal, and against the Meunites.
 2chr:26.8.  The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah and his fame spread as far as Egypt, for he grew stronger and stronger.
 2chr:26.9.  Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the Angle, and he fortified them.
 2chr:26.10. He built towers in the desert and dug numerous cisterns, for he had many cattle. He had plowmen in the foothills and the plains, and vinedressers in the highlands and the garden land. He was a lover of the soil.
 2chr:26.11. Uzziah also had a standing army of fit soldiers divided into bands according to the number in which they were mustered by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the recorder, under the command of Hananiah, one of the king's officials.
 2chr:26.12. The entire number of family heads over these valiant warriors was two thousand six hundred,
 2chr:26.13. and at their disposal was a mighty army of three hundred seven thousand five hundred fighting men of great valor to help the king against his enemies.
 2chr:26.14. Uzziah provided for them--for the entire army--bucklers, lances, helmets, breastplates, bows and slingstones.
 2chr:26.15. He also built machines in Jerusalem, devices contrived to stand on the towers and at the angles of the walls to shoot arrows and cast large stones. His fame spread far and wide, and his power was ascribed to the marvelous help he had received.
 2chr:26.16. But after he had become strong, he became proud to his own destruction and broke faith with the LORD, his God. He entered the temple of the LORD to make an offering on the altar of incense.
 2chr:26.17. But Azariah the priest, and with him eighty other priests of the LORD, courageous men, followed him.
 2chr:26.18. They opposed King Uzziah, saying to him: "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who have been consecrated for this purpose. Leave the sanctuary, for you have broken faith and no longer have a part in the glory that comes from the LORD God."
 2chr:26.19. Uzziah, who was holding a censer for burning the incense, became angry, but at the moment he showed his anger to the priests, while they were looking at him in the house of the LORD beside the altar of incense, leprosy broke out on his forehead.
 2chr:26.20. Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests examined him, and when they saw that his forehead was leprous, they expelled him from the temple. He himself fled willingly, for the LORD had afflicted him.
 2chr:26.21. King Uzziah remained a leper to the day of his death. As a leper he dwelt in a segregated house, for he was excluded from the house of the LORD. Therefore his son Jotham was regent of the palace and ruled the people of the land.
 2chr:26.22. The prophet Isaiah, son of Amos, wrote the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last.
 2chr:26.23. Uzziah rested with his ancestors; he was buried with them in the field adjoining the royal cemetery, for they said, "He was a leper." His son Jotham succeeded him as king.
    
 2chr:27.1.  Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Jerusa, daughter of Zadok.
 2chr:27.2.  He pleased the LORD just as his father Uzziah had done, though he did not enter the temple of the LORD; the people, however, continued to act sinfully.
 2chr:27.3.  He built the upper gate of the LORD'S house and had much construction done on the wall of Ophel.
 2chr:27.4.  Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and in the forest land he set up fortresses and towers.
 2chr:27.5.  He fought with the king of the Ammonites and conquered them. That year the Ammonites paid him one hundred talents of silver, together with ten thousand kors of wheat and ten thousand of barley. They brought the same to him also in the second and in the third year.
 2chr:27.6.  Thus Jotham continued to grow strong because he lived resolutely in the presence of the LORD, his God.
 2chr:27.7.  The rest of the acts of Jotham, his wars and his activities, can be found written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
 2chr:27.8.  He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
 2chr:27.9.  Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David, and his son Ahaz succeeded him as king.
    
 2chr:28.1.  Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not please the LORD as his forefather David had done,
 2chr:28.2.  but conducted himself like the kings of Israel and even made molten idols of the Baals.
 2chr:28.3.  Moreover, he offered sacrifice in the Valley of Ben-hinnom, and immolated his sons by fire according to the abominable practice of the nations which the LORD had cleared out before the Israelites.
 2chr:28.4.  He offered sacrifice and incense on the high places, on hills, and under every leafy tree.
 2chr:28.5.  Therefore the LORD, his God, delivered him into the power of the king of Aram. The Arameans defeated him and carried away captive a large number of his people, whom they brought to Damascus. He was also delivered into the power of the king of Israel, who defeated him with great slaughter.
 2chr:28.6.  For Pekah, son of Remaliah, slew one hundred and twenty thousand of Judah in a single day, all of them valiant men, because they had abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers.
 2chr:28.7.  Zichri, an Ephraimite warrior, killed Maaseiah, the king's son, and Azrikam, the master of the palace, and also Elkanah, who was second to the king.
 2chr:28.8.  The Israelites took away as captives two hundred thousand of their brethren's wives, sons and daughters; they also took from them much plunder, which they brought to Samaria.
 2chr:28.9.  In Samaria there was a prophet of the LORD by the name of Oded. He went out to meet the army returning to Samaria and said to them: "It was because the LORD, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah that he delivered them into your hands. You, however, have slaughtered them with a fury that has reached up to heaven.
 2chr:28.10. And now you are planning to make the children of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves and bondwomen. Are not you yourselves, therefore, guilty of a crime against the LORD, your God?
 2chr:28.11. Now listen to me: send back the captives you have carried off from among your brethren, for the burning anger of the LORD is upon you."
 2chr:28.12. At this, some of the Ephraimite leaders, Azariah, son of Johanan, Berechiah, son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah, son of Shallum, and Amasa, son of Hadlai, themselves stood up in opposition to those who had returned from the war.
 2chr:28.13. They said to them: "Do not bring the captives here, for what you propose will make us guilty before the LORD and increase our sins and our guilt. Our guilt is already great, and there is a burning anger upon Israel."
 2chr:28.14. Therefore the soldiers left their captives and the plunder before the princes and the whole assembly.
 2chr:28.15. Then the men just named proceeded to help the captives. All of them who were naked they clothed from the booty; they clothed them, put sandals on their feet, gave them food and drink, anointed them, and all who were weak they set on asses. They brought them to Jericho, the city of palms, to their brethren. Then they returned to Samaria.
 2chr:28.16. At that time King Ahaz sent an appeal for help to the kings of Assyria.
 2chr:28.17. The Edomites had returned, attacked Judah, and carried off captives.
 2chr:28.18. The Philistines too had raided the cities of the foothills and the Negeb of Judah; they captured Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco and its dependencies, Timnah and its dependencies, and Gimzo and its dependencies, and occupied them.
 2chr:28.19. For the LORD had brought Judah low because of Ahaz, king of Israel, who let Judah go its own way and proved utterly faithless to the LORD.
 2chr:28.20. Tilgath-pilneser, king of Assyria, did indeed come to him, but to oppress him rather than to help him.
 2chr:28.21. Though Ahaz plundered the LORD'S house and the houses of the king and the princes to make payment to the king of Assyria, it availed him nothing.
 2chr:28.22. While he was already in distress, the same King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD.
 2chr:28.23. He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him, saying, "Since it was the gods of the kings of Aram who helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me also." However, they only caused further disaster to him and to all Israel.
 2chr:28.24. Ahaz gathered up the utensils of God's house and broke them in pieces. He closed the doors of the LORD'S house and had altars made for himself in every corner of Jerusalem.
 2chr:28.25. In every city throughout Judah he set up high places to offer sacrifice to other gods. Thus he angered the LORD, the God of his fathers.
 2chr:28.26. The rest of his deeds and his activities, first and last, can be found written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
 2chr:28.27. Ahaz rested with his ancestors and was buried in Jerusalem--in the city, for they did not bring him to the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah succeeded him as king.
    
 2chr:29.1.  Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Abia, daughter of Zechariah.
 2chr:29.2.  He pleased the LORD just as his forefather David had done.
 2chr:29.3.  It was he who, in the first month of the first year of his reign, opened the doors of the LORD'S house and repaired them.
 2chr:29.4.  He summoned the priests and Levites, gathered them in the open space to the east,
 2chr:29.5.  and said to them: "Listen to me, you Levites! Sanctify yourselves now and sanctify the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers, and clean out the filth from the sanctuary.
 2chr:29.6.  Our fathers acted faithlessly and did evil in the eyes of the LORD, our God. They abandoned him, turned away their faces from the LORD'S dwelling, and turned their backs on him.
 2chr:29.7.  They also closed the doors of the vestibule, extinguished the lamps, and refused to burn incense and offer holocausts in the sanctuary to the honor of the God of Israel.
 2chr:29.8.  Therefore the anger of the LORD has come upon Judah and Jerusalem; he has made them an object of terror, astonishment and mockery, as you see with your own eyes.
 2chr:29.9.  For our fathers, as you know, fell by the sword, and our sons, our daughters and our wives have been taken captive because of this.
 2chr:29.10. Now, I intend to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, that his burning anger may withdraw from us.
 2chr:29.11. My sons, be not negligent any longer, for it is you whom the LORD has chosen to stand before him, to minister to him, to be his ministers and to offer incense."
 2chr:29.12. Then the Levites arose: Mahath, son of Amasai, and Joel, son of Azariah, descendants of the Kohathites; of the sons of Merari: Kish, son of Abdi, and Azariah, son of Jehallel; of the Gershonites: Joah, son of Zimmah, and Eden, son of Joah;
 2chr:29.13. of the sons of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeuel; of the sons of Asaph: Zechariah and Mattaniah;
 2chr:29.14. of the sons of Heman: Jehuel and Shimei; of the sons of Jeduthun: Shemiah and Uzziel.
 2chr:29.15. They gathered their brethren together and sanctified themselves; then they came as the king had ordered, to cleanse the LORD'S house in keeping with his words.
 2chr:29.16. The priests entered the interior of the LORD'S house to cleanse it; and whatever they found in the LORD'S temple that was unclean they brought out to the court of the LORD'S house, where the Levites took it from them and carried it out to the Kidron Valley.
 2chr:29.17. They began the work of consecration on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they arrived at the vestibule of the LORD; they consecrated the LORD'S house during eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month, they had finished.
 2chr:29.18. Then they went inside to King Hezekiah and said: "We have cleansed the entire house of the LORD, the altar of holocausts with all its utensils, and the table for the showbread with all its utensils.
 2chr:29.19. All the articles which King Ahaz during his reign had thrown away because of his apostasy, we have restored and consecrated, and they are now before the LORD'S altar."
 2chr:29.20. Then King Hezekiah hastened to convoke the princes of the city and went up to the LORD'S house.
 2chr:29.21. Seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs and seven he-goats were brought for a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah, and he ordered the sons of Aaron, the priests, to offer them on the altar of the LORD.
 2chr:29.22. They slaughtered the bulls, and the priests collected the blood and cast it on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and cast the blood on the altar; then they slaughtered the lambs and cast the blood on the altar.
 2chr:29.23. Then the he-goats for the sin offering were led before the king and the assembly, who laid their hands upon them.
 2chr:29.24. The priests then slaughtered them and offered their blood on the altar to atone for the sin of all Israel; for "The holocaust and the sin offering," the king had said, "is for all Israel."
 2chr:29.25. He stationed the Levites in the LORD'S house with cymbals, harps and lyres according to the prescriptions of David, of Gad the king's seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for the prescriptions were from the LORD through his prophets.
 2chr:29.26. The Levites were stationed with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
 2chr:29.27. Then Hezekiah ordered the holocaust to be sacrificed on the altar, and in the same instant that the holocaust began, they also began the song of the LORD, to the accompaniment of the trumpets and the instruments of David, king of Israel.
 2chr:29.28. The entire assembly prostrated itself, and they continued to sing the song and to sound the trumpets until the holocaust had been completed.
 2chr:29.29. As the holocaust was completed, the king and all who were with him knelt and prostrated themselves.
 2chr:29.30. King Hezekiah and the princes then commanded the Levites to sing the praises of the LORD in the words of David and of Asaph the seer. They sang praises till their joy was full, then fell down and prostrated themselves.
 2chr:29.31. Hezekiah now spoke out this command: "You have undertaken a work for the LORD. Approach, and bring forward the sacrifices and thank offerings for the house of the LORD." Then the assembly brought forward the sacrifices and thank offerings and all the holocausts which were free-will offerings.
 2chr:29.32. The number of holocausts that the assembly brought forward was seventy oxen, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all of these as a holocaust to the LORD.
 2chr:29.33. As consecrated gifts there were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.
 2chr:29.34. Since the priests were too few in number to be able to skin all the victims for the holocausts, their brethren the Levites assisted them until the task was completed and the priests had sanctified themselves; the Levites, in fact, were more willing than the priests to sanctify themselves.
 2chr:29.35. Also, the holocausts were many, along with the fat of the peace offerings and the libations for the holocausts. Thus the service of the house of the LORD was reestablished.
 2chr:29.36. Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what God had reestablished for the people, and at how suddenly this had been done.
    
 2chr:30.1.  Hezekiah sent a message to all Israel and Judah, and even wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh saying that they should come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover in honor of the LORD, the God of Israel.
 2chr:30.2.  The king, his princes, and the entire assembly in Jerusalem had agreed to celebrate the Passover during the second month,
 2chr:30.3.  for they could not celebrate it at the time of the restoration: the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient numbers, and the people were not gathered at Jerusalem.
 2chr:30.4.  When this proposal had been approved by the king and the entire assembly,
 2chr:30.5.  they issued a decree to be proclaimed throughout all Israel from Beer-sheba to Dan, that everyone should come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover in honor of the LORD, the God of Israel; for not many had kept it in the manner prescribed.
 2chr:30.6.  Accordingly the couriers, with the letters written by the king and his princes, traversed all Israel and Judah, and at the king's command they said: "Israelites, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you, the remnant left from the hands of the Assyrian kings.
 2chr:30.7.  Be not like your fathers and your brethren who proved faithless to the LORD, the God of their fathers, so that he delivered them over to desolation, as you yourselves now see.
 2chr:30.8.  Be not obstinate, as your fathers were; extend your hands to the LORD and come to his sanctuary that he has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD, your God, that he may turn away his burning anger from you.
 2chr:30.9.  For when you return to the LORD, your brethren and your children will find mercy with their captors and return to this land; for merciful and compassionate is the LORD, your God, and he will not turn away his face from you if you return to him."
 2chr:30.10. So the couriers passed from city to city in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as Zebulun, but they were derided and scoffed at.
 2chr:30.11. Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.
 2chr:30.12. In Judah, however, the power of God brought it about that the people were of one mind to carry out the command of the king and the princes in accordance with the word of the LORD.
 2chr:30.13. Thus many people gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month; it was a very great assembly.
 2chr:30.14. They proceeded to take down the altars that were in Jerusalem; also they removed all the altars of incense and cast them into the Kidron Valley.
 2chr:30.15. They slaughtered the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and Levites, touched with shame, sanctified themselves and brought holocausts into the house of the LORD.
 2chr:30.16. They stood in the places prescribed for them according to the law of Moses, the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood given them by the Levites;
 2chr:30.17. for many in the assembly had not sanctified themselves, and the Levites were in charge of slaughtering the Passover victims for all who were unclean and therefore could not consecrate them to the LORD.
 2chr:30.18. The greater part of the people, in fact, chiefly from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves. Nevertheless they ate the Passover, contrary to the prescription; for Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the LORD, who is good, grant pardon to
 2chr:30.19. everyone who has resolved to seek God, the LORD, the God of his fathers, though he be not clean as holiness requires."
 2chr:30.20. The LORD heard Hezekiah and spared the people.
 2chr:30.21. Thus the Israelites who were in Jerusalem celebrated the feast of Unleavened Bread with great rejoicing for seven days, and the Levites and the priests sang the praises of the LORD day after day with all their strength.
 2chr:30.22. Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who had shown themselves well skilled in the service of the LORD. And when they had completed the seven days of festival, slaying peace offerings and singing praises to the LORD, the God of their fathers,
 2chr:30.23. the whole assembly agreed to celebrate another seven days. With joy, therefore, they continued the festivity seven days longer.
 2chr:30.24. King Hezekiah of Judah had contributed a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep to the assembly, and the princes had contributed to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep. The priests sanctified themselves in great numbers,
 2chr:30.25. and the whole assembly of Judah rejoiced, together with the priests and Levites and the rest of the assembly that had come from Israel, as well as the sojourners from the land of Israel and those that lived in Judah.
 2chr:30.26. There was great rejoicing in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel, there had not been the like in the city.
 2chr:30.27. Then the levitical priests rose and blessed the people; their voice was heard and their prayer reached heaven, God's holy dwelling.
    
 2chr:31.1.  After all this was over, those Israelites who had been present went forth to the cities of Judah and smashed the sacred pillars, cut down the sacred poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh, until all were destroyed. Then the Israelites returned to their various cities, each to his own possession.
 2chr:31.2.  Hezekiah reestablished the classes of the priests and the Levites according to their former classification, assigning to each priest and Levite his proper service, whether in regard to holocausts or peace offerings, thanksgiving or praise, or ministering in the gates of the encampment of the LORD.
 2chr:31.3.  From his own wealth the king allotted a portion for holocausts, those of morning and evening and those on sabbaths, new moons and festivals, as prescribed in the law of the LORD.
 2chr:31.4.  He also commanded the people living in Jerusalem to provide the support of the priests and Levites, that they might devote themselves entirely to the law of the LORD.
 2chr:31.5.  As soon as the order was promulgated, the Israelites brought, in great quantities, the best of their grain, wine, oil and honey, and all the produce of the fields; they gave a generous tithe of everything.
 2chr:31.6.  Israelites and Judahites living in other cities of Judah also brought in tithes of oxen, sheep, and things that had been consecrated to the LORD, their God; these they brought in and set out in heaps.
 2chr:31.7.  It was in the third month that they began to establish these heaps, and they completed them in the seventh month.
 2chr:31.8.  When Hezekiah and the princes had come and seen the heaps, they blessed the LORD and his people Israel.
 2chr:31.9.  Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps,
 2chr:31.10. and the priest Azariah, head of the house of Zadoc, answered him, "Since they began to bring the offerings to the house of the LORD, we have eaten to the full and have had much left over, for the LORD has blessed his people. This great supply is what was left over."
 2chr:31.11. Hezekiah then gave orders that chambers be constructed in the house of the LORD. When this had been done,
 2chr:31.12. the offerings, tithes and consecrated things were deposited there in safekeeping. The overseer of these things was Conaniah the Levite, and his brother Shimei was second in charge.
 2chr:31.13. Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath and Benaiah were supervisors subject to Conaniah and his brother Shimei by appointment of King Hezekiah and of Azariah, the prefect of the house of God.
 2chr:31.14. Kore, the son of Imnah, a Levite and the keeper of the eastern gate, was in charge of the free-will gifts made to God; he distributed the offerings made to the LORD and the most holy of the consecrated things.
 2chr:31.15. Under him in the priestly cities were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shecaniah, who faithfully made the distribution to their brethren, great and small alike, according to their classes.
 2chr:31.16. There was also a register by ancestral houses of males thirty years of age and over, for all priests who were eligible to enter the house of the LORD according to the daily rule to fulfill their service in the order of their classes.
 2chr:31.17. The priests were inscribed in their family records according to their ancestral houses, and the Levites of twenty years and over according to their various offices and classes.
 2chr:31.18. A distribution was also made to all who were inscribed in the family records, for their little ones, wives, sons and daughters--thus for the entire assembly, since they were to sanctify themselves by sharing faithfully in the consecrated things.
 2chr:31.19. The sons of Aaron, the priests who lived on the lands attached to their cities, had in every city men designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to every Levite listed in the family records.
 2chr:31.20. This Hezekiah did in all Judah. He did what was good, upright and faithful before the LORD, his God.
 2chr:31.21. Everything that he undertook, for the service of the house of God or for the law and the commandments, was to do the will of his God. He did this wholeheartedly, and he prospered.
    
 2chr:32.1.  But after he had proved his fidelity by such deeds, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came. He invaded Judah, besieged the fortified cities, and proposed to take them by storm.
 2chr:32.2.  When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was coming with the intention of attacking Jerusalem,
 2chr:32.3.  he decided in counsel with his princes and warriors to stop the waters of the springs outside the city. When they had pledged him their support,
 2chr:32.4.  a large crowd was gathered which stopped all the springs and also the running stream in the valley nearby. For they said, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find an abundance of water?"
 2chr:32.5.  He then looked to his defenses: he rebuilt the wall where it was broken down, raised towers upon it, and built another wall outside. He strengthened the Millo of the City of David and had a great number of spears and shields prepared.
 2chr:32.6.  Then he appointed army commanders over the people. He gathered them together in his presence in the open space at the gate of the city and encouraged them with these words:
 2chr:32.7.  "Be brave and steadfast; do not be afraid or dismayed because of the king of Assyria and all the throng that is coming with him, for there is more with us than with him.
 2chr:32.8.  For he has only an arm of flesh, but we have the LORD, our God, to help us and to fight our battles." And the people took confidence from the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.
 2chr:32.9.  After this, while Sennacherib, king of Assyria, himself remained at Lachish with all his forces, he sent his officials to Jerusalem with this message for King Hezekiah of Judah, and all the Judahites who were in Jerusalem:
 2chr:32.10. "King Sennacherib of Assyria has this to say: On what are you relying, while you remain under siege in Jerusalem?
 2chr:32.11. Has not Hezekiah deceived you, delivering you over to a death of famine and thirst, by his claim that 'the LORD, our God, will save us from the grasp of the king of Assyria'?
 2chr:32.12. Has not this same Hezekiah removed his high places and altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, 'You shall prostrate yourselves before one altar only, and on it alone you shall offer incense'?
 2chr:32.13. Do you not know what my fathers and I have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of the nations in those lands able to save their lands from my hand?
 2chr:32.14. Who among all the gods of those nations which my fathers put under the ban was able to save his people from my hand? Will your god, then, be able to save you from my hand?
 2chr:32.15. Let not Hezekiah mislead you further and deceive you in any such way. Do not believe him! Since no other god of any other nation or kingdom has been able to save his people from my hand or the hands of my fathers, how much the less shall your god save you from my hand!"
 2chr:32.16. His officials said still more against the LORD God and against his servant Hezekiah,
 2chr:32.17. for he had written letters to deride the LORD, the God of Israel, speaking of him in these terms: "As the gods of the nations in other lands have not saved their people from my hand, neither shall Hezekiah's god save his people from my hand."
 2chr:32.18. In a loud voice they shouted in the Judean language to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them so that they might capture their city.
 2chr:32.19. They spoke of the God of Israel as though he were one of the gods of the other peoples of the earth, a work of human hands.
 2chr:32.20. But because of this, King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, son of Amos, prayed and called out to heaven.
 2chr:32.21. Then the LORD sent an angel, who destroyed every valiant warrior, leader and commander in the camp of the Assyrian king, so that he had to return shamefaced to his own country. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own offspring struck him down there with the sword.
 2chr:32.22. Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, as from every other power; he gave them rest on every side.
 2chr:32.23. Many brought gifts for the LORD to Jerusalem and costly objects for King Hezekiah of Judah, who thereafter was exalted in the eyes of all the nations.
 2chr:32.24. In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. He prayed to the LORD, who answered him by giving him a sign.
 2chr:32.25. Hezekiah, however, did not then discharge his debt of gratitude, for he had become proud. Therefore anger descended upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
 2chr:32.26. But then Hezekiah humbled himself for his pride--both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and therefore the LORD did not vent his anger on them during the time of Hezekiah.
 2chr:32.27. Hezekiah possessed very great wealth and glory. He had treasuries made for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, jewels, and other precious things of all kinds;
 2chr:32.28. also storehouses for the harvest of grain, for wine and oil, and barns for the various kinds of cattle and for the flocks.
 2chr:32.29. He built cities for himself, and he acquired sheep and oxen in great numbers, for God gave him very great riches.
 2chr:32.30. This same Hezekiah stopped the upper outflow of water from Gihon and led it underground westward to the City of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his undertakings.
 2chr:32.31. Nevertheless, in respect to the ambassadors (princes) sent to him from Babylon to investigate the sign that had occurred in the land, God forsook him to test him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
 2chr:32.32. The rest of Hezekiah's acts, including his pious works, can be found written in the Vision of the Prophet Isaiah, son of Amos, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
 2chr:32.33. Hezekiah rested with his ancestors; he was buried at the approach to the tombs of the descendants of David. All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem paid him honor at his death. His son Manasseh succeeded him as king.
    
 2chr:33.1.  Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.
 2chr:33.2.  He did evil in the sight of the LORD, following the abominable practices of the nations whom the LORD had cleared out of the way of the Israelites.
 2chr:33.3.  He rebuilt the high places which his father Hezekiah had torn down, erected altars for the Baals, made sacred poles, and prostrated himself before the whole host of heaven and worshiped them.
 2chr:33.4.  He even built altars in the temple of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, "In Jerusalem shall my name be forever":
 2chr:33.5.  he built altars to the whole host of heaven in the two courts of the LORD'S house.
 2chr:33.6.  It was he, too, who immolated his sons by fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced augury, divination and magic, and appointed necromancers and diviners of spirits, so that he provoked the LORD with the great evil that he did in his sight.
 2chr:33.7.  He placed an idol that he had carved in the house of God, of which God had said to David and his son Solomon: "In this house and in Jerusalem which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel I shall place my name forever.
 2chr:33.8.  I will not again allow Israel's feet to leave the land which I assigned to your fathers, provided they are careful to observe all that I commanded them, keeping the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances given by Moses."
 2chr:33.9.  Manasseh misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem into doing even greater evil than the nations which the LORD had destroyed at the coming of the Israelites.
 2chr:33.10. The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.
 2chr:33.11. Therefore the LORD brought against them the army commanders of the Assyrian king; they took Manasseh with hooks, shackled him with chains, and transported him to Babylon.
 2chr:33.12. In this distress, he began to appease the LORD, his God. He humbled himself abjectly before the God of his fathers
 2chr:33.13. and prayed to him. The LORD let himself be won over: he heard his prayer and restored him to his kingdom in Jerusalem. Then Manasseh understood that the LORD is indeed God.
 2chr:33.14. Afterward he built an outer wall for the City of David to the west of Gihon in the valley, extending to the Fish Gate and encircling Ophel; he built it very high. He stationed army officers in all the fortified cities of Judah.
 2chr:33.15. He removed the foreign gods and the idol from the LORD'S house and all the altars he had built on the mount of the LORD'S house and in Jerusalem, and he cast them outside the city.
 2chr:33.16. He restored the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed on it peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel.
 2chr:33.17. Though the people continued to sacrifice on the high places, they now did so to the LORD, their God.
 2chr:33.18. The rest of the acts of Manasseh, his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, can be found written in the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
 2chr:33.19. His prayer and how his supplication was heard, all his sins and his infidelity, the sites where he built high places and erected sacred poles and carved images before he humbled himself, all can be found written down in the history of his seers.
 2chr:33.20. Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried in his own palace. His son Amon succeeded him as king.
 2chr:33.21. Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.
 2chr:33.22. He did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his father Manasseh had done. Amon offered sacrifice to all the idols which his father Manasseh had made, and worshiped them.
 2chr:33.23. Moreover, he did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh had done; on the contrary, Amon only increased his guilt.
 2chr:33.24. His servants conspired against him and put him to death in his own house.
 2chr:33.25. But the people of the land slew all those who had conspired against King Amon, and then they, the people of the land, made his son Josiah king in his stead.
    
 2chr:34.1.  Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
 2chr:34.2.  He pleased the LORD, following the path of his ancestor David.
 2chr:34.3.  In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still a youth, he began to seek after the God of his forefather David, and in his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the sacred poles and the carved and molten images.
 2chr:34.4.  In his presence, the altars of the Baals were destroyed; the incense stands erected above them were torn down; the sacred poles and the carved and molten images were shattered and beaten into dust, which was strewn over the tombs of those who had sacrificed to them;
 2chr:34.5.  and the bones of the priests he burned upon their altars. Thus he purged Judah and Jerusalem.
 2chr:34.6.  He did likewise in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, and in the ruined villages of the surrounding country as far as Naphtali;
 2chr:34.7.  he destroyed the altars, broke up the sacred poles and carved images and beat them into dust, and tore down the incense stands throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
 2chr:34.8.  In the eighteenth year of his reign, in order to cleanse the temple as well as the land, he sent Shaphan, son of Azaliah, Maaseiah, the ruler of the city, and Joah, son of Joahaz, the chamberlain, to restore the house of the LORD, his God.
 2chr:34.9.  They came to Hilkiah the high priest and turned over the money brought to the house of God which the Levites, the guardians of the threshold, had collected from Manasseh, Ephraim, and all the remnant of Israel, as well as from all of Judah, Benjamin, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
 2chr:34.10. They turned it over to the master workmen in the house of the LORD, and these in turn used it to pay the workmen in the LORD'S house who were restoring and repairing the temple.
 2chr:34.11. They also gave it to the carpenters and the masons to buy hewn stone and timber for the tie beams and rafters of the buildings which the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.
 2chr:34.12. The men worked faithfully at their task; their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the line of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the Kohathites, who directed them. All those Levites who were skillful with musical instruments
 2chr:34.13. were in charge of the men who carried the burdens, and they directed all the workers in every kind of labor. Some of the other Levites were scribes, officials and gatekeepers.
 2chr:34.14. When they brought out the money that had been deposited in the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of the LORD given through Moses.
 2chr:34.15. He reported this to Shaphan the scribe, saying, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD." Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan,
 2chr:34.16. who brought it to the king at the same time that he was making his report to him. He said, "Your servants are doing everything that has been entrusted to them;
 2chr:34.17. they have turned into bullion the metals deposited in the LORD'S house and have handed it over to the overseers and the workmen."
 2chr:34.18. Then Shaphan the scribe announced to the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it before the king.
 2chr:34.19. When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his garments
 2chr:34.20. and issued this command to Hilkiah, to Ahikam, son of Shaphan, to Abdon, son of Michah, to Shaphan the scribe, and to Asaiah, the king's servant:
 2chr:34.21. "On behalf of myself and those who are left in Israel and Judah, go, consult the LORD concerning the words of the book that has been found. For the anger of the LORD has been set furiously ablaze against us, since our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD and have not done all that is written in this book."
 2chr:34.22. Then Hilkiah and the other men from the king went to the prophetess Huldah, the wife of Shallum, son of Tokhath, son of Hasrah, the guardian of the wardrobe; she dwelt in Jerusalem, in the new quarter. They spoke to her as they had been instructed,
 2chr:34.23. and she said to them: "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 'Tell the one who sent you to me,
 2chr:34.24. The LORD says: I am prepared to bring evil upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the curses written in the book that has been read before the king of Judah.
 2chr:34.25. Because they have abandoned me and have offered incense to other gods, provoking me by every deed that they have performed, my anger is ablaze against this place and cannot be extinguished.'
 2chr:34.26. "But to the king of Judah who sent you to consult the LORD, give this response: 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the threats you have heard:
 2chr:34.27. Because you were heartsick and have humbled yourself before God on hearing his words spoken against this place and its inhabitants; because you have humbled yourself before me, have torn your garments, and have wept before me, I in turn have listened--so declares the LORD.
 2chr:34.28. I will gather you to your ancestors and you shall be taken to your grave in peace. Your eyes shall not see all the evil I will bring upon this place and upon its inhabitants.'" They brought back this message to the king.
 2chr:34.29. The king now convened all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
 2chr:34.30. He went up to the house of the LORD with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people, great and small; and he had read aloud to them the entire text of the book of the covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.
 2chr:34.31. Standing at his post, the king made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep his commandments, decrees, and statutes with his whole heart and soul, thus observing the terms of the covenant written in this book.
 2chr:34.32. He thereby committed all who were of Jerusalem and Benjamin, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem conformed themselves to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
 2chr:34.33. Josiah removed every abominable thing from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he obliged all who were in Israel to serve the LORD, their God. During his lifetime they did not desert the LORD, the God of their fathers.
    
 2chr:35.1.  Josiah celebrated in Jerusalem a Passover to honor the LORD; the Passover sacrifice was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month.
 2chr:35.2.  He reappointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the LORD'S house.
 2chr:35.3.  He said to the Levites who were to instruct all Israel, and who were consecrated to the LORD: "Put the holy ark in the house built by Solomon, son of David, king of Israel. It shall no longer be a burden on your shoulders. Serve now the LORD, your God, and his people Israel.
 2chr:35.4.  Prepare yourselves in your ancestral houses and your classes according to the prescriptions of King David of Israel and his son Solomon.
 2chr:35.5.  Stand in the sanctuary according to the divisions of the ancestral houses of your brethren, the common people, so that the distribution of the Levites and the families may be the same.
 2chr:35.6.  Slay the Passover sacrifice, sanctify yourselves, and be at the disposition of your brethren, that all may be carried out according to the word of the LORD given through Moses."
 2chr:35.7.  Josiah contributed to the common people a flock of lambs and kids, thirty thousand in number, each to serve as a Passover victim for any who were present, and also three thousand oxen; these were from the king's property.
 2chr:35.8.  His princes also gave a free-will gift to the people, the priests and the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah and Jehiel, prefects of the house of God, gave to the priests two thousand six hundred Passover victims together with three hundred oxen.
 2chr:35.9.  Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah, Nethanel, Hashabiah, Jehiel and Jozabad, the rulers of the Levites, contributed to the Levites five thousand Passover victims, together with five hundred oxen.
 2chr:35.10. When the service had been arranged, the priests took their places, as did the Levites in their classes according to the king's command.
 2chr:35.11. The Passover sacrifice was slaughtered, whereupon the priests sprinkled some of the blood and the Levites proceeded to the skinning.
 2chr:35.12. They separated what was destined for the holocaust and gave it to various groups of the ancestral houses of the common people to offer to the LORD, as is prescribed in the book of Moses. They did the same with the oxen.
 2chr:35.13. They cooked the Passover on the fire as prescribed, and also cooked the sacred meals in pots, caldrons and pans, then brought them quickly to all the common people.
 2chr:35.14. Afterward they prepared the Passover for themselves and for the priests. Indeed the priests, the sons of Aaron, were busy offering holocausts and the fatty portions until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron.
 2chr:35.15. The singers, the sons of Asaph, were at their posts as prescribed by David: Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun, the king's seer. The gatekeepers were at every gate; there was no need for them to leave their stations, for their brethren, the Levites, prepared for them.
 2chr:35.16. Thus the entire service of the LORD was arranged that day so that the Passover could be celebrated and the holocausts offered on the altar of the LORD, as King Josiah had commanded.
 2chr:35.17. The Israelites who were present on that occasion kept the Passover and the feast of the Unleavened Bread for seven days.
 2chr:35.18. No such Passover had been observed in Israel since the time of the prophet Samuel, nor had any king of Israel kept a Passover like that of Josiah, the priests and Levites, all of Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
 2chr:35.19. It was in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign that this Passover was observed.
 2chr:35.20. After Josiah had done all this to restore the temple, Neco, king of Egypt, came up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to intercept him.
 2chr:35.21. Neco sent messengers to him, saying: "What quarrel is between us, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, for my war is with another kingdom, and God has told me to hasten. Do not interfere with God who is with me, as otherwise he will destroy you."
 2chr:35.22. But Josiah would not withdraw from him, for he had sought a pretext for fighting with him. Therefore he would not listen to the words of Neco that came from the mouth of God, but went out to fight in the plain of Megiddo.
 2chr:35.23. Then the archers shot King Josiah, who said to his servants, "Take me away, for I am seriously wounded."
 2chr:35.24. His servants removed him from his own chariot, placed him in another he had in reserve, and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his ancestors, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned him.
 2chr:35.25. Jeremiah also composed a lamentation over Josiah, which is recited to this day by all the male and female singers in their lamentations over Josiah. These have been made obligatory for Israel, and can be found written in the Lamentations.
 2chr:35.26. The rest of the chronicle of Josiah, his pious deeds in regard to what is written in the law of the LORD,
 2chr:35.27. and his acts, first and last, can be found written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

 2chr:36.1.  The people of the land took Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, and made him king in Jerusalem in his father's stead.
 2chr:36.2.  Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
 2chr:36.3.  The king of Egypt deposed him in Jerusalem and fined the land one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
 2chr:36.4.  Then the king of Egypt made his brother Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Neco took his brother Jehoahaz away and brought him to Egypt.
 2chr:36.5.  Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD, his God.
 2chr:36.6.  Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came up against him and bound him with chains to take him to Babylon.
 2chr:36.7.  Nebuchadnezzar also carried away to Babylon some of the vessels of the house of the LORD and put them in his palace in Babylon.
 2chr:36.8.  The rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, the abominable things that he did, and what therefore happened to him, can be found written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. His son Jehoiachin succeeded him as king.
 2chr:36.9.  Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months (and ten days) in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD.
 2chr:36.10. At the turn of the year, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and had him brought to Babylon, along with precious vessels from the temple of the LORD. He made his brother Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.
 2chr:36.11. Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
 2chr:36.12. He did evil in the sight of the LORD, his God, and he did not humble himself before the prophet Jeremiah, who spoke the word of the LORD.
 2chr:36.13. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart rather than return to the LORD, the God of Israel.
 2chr:36.14. Likewise all the princes of Judah, the priests and the people added infidelity to infidelity, practicing all the abominations of the nations and polluting the LORD'S temple which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.
 2chr:36.15. Early and often did the LORD, the God of their fathers, send his messengers to them, for he had compassion on his people and his dwelling place.
 2chr:36.16. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised his warnings, and scoffed at his prophets, until the anger of the LORD against his people was so inflamed that there was no remedy.
 2chr:36.17. Then he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who slew their young men in their own sanctuary building, sparing neither young man nor maiden, neither the aged nor the decrepit; he delivered all of them over into his grip.
 2chr:36.18. All the utensils of the house of God, the large and the small, and the treasures of the LORD'S house and of the king and his princes, all these he brought to Babylon.
 2chr:36.19. They burnt the house of God, tore down the walls of Jerusalem, set all its palaces afire, and destroyed all its precious objects.
 2chr:36.20. Those who escaped the sword he carried captive to Babylon, where they became his and his sons' servants until the kingdom of the Persians came to power.
 2chr:36.21. All this was to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah: "Until the land has retrieved its lost sabbaths, during all the time it lies waste it shall have rest while seventy years are fulfilled."
 2chr:36.22. In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD inspired King Cyrus of Persia to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom, both by word of mouth and in writing:
 2chr:36 23. "Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia: 'All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me, and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever, therefore, among you belongs to any part of his people, let him go up, and may his God be with him!'"  [end of 2 Chronicles]

